RP --- 1/27

[perchinski]

Was hoping for some posts re: wkend fishing, but looks as tho most stayed home to watch football. Just got back from Rockport.  Hadn't been there in a week, fishing Echo instead.  Fished 20-45' over the southern flats and off the dam from 10:30-1:30.  Fewer fish, fewer bites, smaller size --- all of the above.  Kept only four 9s & 10s out of the dozens caught.  Eyeballs & perch belly.  7" of ice down south; 10" at the dam.  Bluebird day with all sun and no wind.  Looks like Echo for me next outing.

[Cowboypirate]

Intresting. Seems early for the bite to taper off? Thoughts?

[MWScott72]

Well, he did say he caught dozens in 3 hours, so maybe the bite just slowed down from the balls to the wall levels of last week.

Thanks for the report Mike - you’ve made my mind up for my next outing in search of fillets.

[perchinski]

Well, he did say he caught dozens in 3 hours, so maybe the bite just slowed down from the balls to the wall levels of last week.

Thanks for the report Mike - you’ve made my mind up for my next outing in search of fillets.

Interesting side note --- upon cleaning those 9s and 10 when I got home, all of them were males.  So, where did the gals go?

[Mildog]

Interesting I’ve only filleted maybe 6 males in 4 outings, have been culling and keeping mostly 9 plus
First trip kept a few smaller as they wouldn’t go down. Trying to fish less than 30 feet finding some decent fish lots of smaller but a few nicer ones in what I have kept. Brother has been out a couple more times
He culls 9 plus had one trip he kept 40 I think mostly legit 10 plus with a few males.
Interesting when trying to check stomachs most fish EMPTY or “goo” zoo plankton etc! Last year many were loaded with sow bugs. This year haven’t seen one in stomachs and lots empty?

PERCHINSKY I think I know you from the past? Think my brother ran into you earlier at RP
Maybe we will cross paths on the ice.

[BoatBallast]

We were at Rockport on Saturday. Only in 20' of water, but we had some fish running through. I started recording on my camera, just for fun.

https://youtu.be/3iWCC4Me_f8

[Jmorfish]

We were at Rockport on Saturday.  Only in 20' of water, but we had some fish running through.  I started recording on my camera, just for fun.

https://youtu.be/3iWCC4Me_f8

Your video says 2021...that what you intended?

[BoatBallast]

We were at Rockport on Saturday.  Only in 20' of water, but we had some fish running through.  I started recording on my camera, just for fun.

https://youtu.be/3iWCC4Me_f8

Your video says 2021...that what you intended?

This was my first try with the new recording device.  It put the timestamp on the video as if it was just started up for the first time ever because it doesn't have constant power.  I figured out how to turn it off for the future.

[Crimson]

We were at Rockport on Saturday.  Only in 20' of water, but we had some fish running through.  I started recording on my camera, just for fun.

https://youtu.be/3iWCC4Me_f8

Your video says 2021...that what you intended?

This was my first try with the new recording device.  It put the timestamp on the video as if it was just started up for the first time ever because it doesn't have constant power.  I figured out how to turn it off for the future.

Neat video!  Interesting to see the fish come in after jigging action, and then than take the bite when the bait is not moved for a few seconds.  Thanks for posting.

[BoatBallast]

Neat video!  Interesting to see the fish come in after jigging action, and then than take the bite when the bait is not moved for a few seconds.  Thanks for posting.

The kids have a . . . unique . . . jigging action.     But the perch definitely wanted it still to actually eat.

We've found over the years that dropping the lure into the dirt and pulling it up into a cloud can draw perch in.  But, it's fun to see how they react and learn what they want from it.

[MrShane]

Neat video!  Interesting to see the fish come in after jigging action, and then than take the bite when the bait is not moved for a few seconds.  Thanks for posting.

The kids have a . . . unique . . . jigging action.     But the perch definitely wanted it still to actually eat.

We've found over the years that dropping the lure into the dirt and pulling it up into a cloud can draw perch in.  But, it's fun to see how they react and learn what they want from it.

Those Perch also like to pin their food down in the mud.
Just for fun, drop jig in to mud, count to five and set hook.
You will be surprised how well this works if they are not actively hitting a suspended jig.

[Piscophilic]

Perchinski,

I'm a bit slow posting
Jon and I were there (RP) on Saturday (1/25) and found the opposite of what you found on your 1/27 trip. Caught around 130 in 4-5 hours. Kept some in the 6-7 inch range early, as I wanted some frozen for bait next spring/summer, after that we culled below 8" and that was about 50% 0f what were caught.

Perch worked well on UL cats last summer.

We kept our limits and they were mostly 8", ie barely filletable. A few 9 to 10. Of the 70 or so we cleaned, only 4 were males. Fished about 30-35' on the east side. We used jigging rapalas and some small hook rigs with chart beads that I make for small WB. Tipped with crawler, perch eyes or perch meat they didn't much care, but we did find that you had to freshen the baits often or they ignored them.

I was wondering where all the males went!

Had a good number hit it in the mud like MrShane said, but most were suspended less than 3' up from the bottom. We specifically moved a couple hundred yards from the crowds.

It reminded me of my first ice trips on DC in 1990.

First time I've been on a serious ice trip in years. I don't handle the cold as well as I used to, but really wanted the bait. 2 days berore the trip I chickened out and went to Sportsmans and go t a tent. It was wonderfull! I'll likely do more ice fishing now.

We ended up with 3.5 pounds of fillets. Getting the 2 families together tomorrow for a fish fry. I had forgotten a few things about perch fishing...like how long it takes to fillet that many. Great table fare though.

Thanks for all your reports!

This was an early pic, whle we were still keeping them for bait.