08-25-2008, 07:22 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I found the picture of the sonar screen interesting, but not unusual...for Starvation. Perch are generally considered to be bottom huggers, and they are. But, I have found them suspended off the bottom several times at Starvation. Walleyes too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been a couple of trips where I found perch clustered near the bottom, in 20 to 25 feet of water, and then tossed over a marker buoy to help keep me on them while making vertical drops. Then, after catching a few fish and getting the school all hot and bothered, they would begin rising up in the water column until they were within a few feet of the top. On more than one occasion I have been able to see them swimming right under me and could catch doubles (tandem rig) every time I simply lowered my jigs into the water with only a rod length of line out from the rod tip.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have also been a couple of times when I could not find fish on the bottom, but found schools of fish suspended at mid depth. Suspecting chubs, carp or trout, I delayed actively working them...until I caught a couple of perch while halfway back in on a retrieve.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the warm part of the summer, fish are likely to seek layers of water that are cooler or which have better pH or oxygen levels. We see that all the time with trout and kokanee, but it is not as common with perch...in most lakes. But, Starvation is deep enough that it can stratify and develop layers with a few degrees difference in temperature or a couple of points higher or lower in certain chemical properties.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Earlier in the summer, I know a couple of walleye trollers that were scoring lots of walleyes by trolling crankbaits only a few feet deep over 50 feet of water. That is not uncommon in the Great Lakes, and other large walleye waters, but is relatively unknown in Utah.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If nothing else, it underscores the importance of having good sonar and knowing how to use it. It also helps to know the species you are after and how they behave in the waters you are fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There have been a couple of trips where I found perch clustered near the bottom, in 20 to 25 feet of water, and then tossed over a marker buoy to help keep me on them while making vertical drops. Then, after catching a few fish and getting the school all hot and bothered, they would begin rising up in the water column until they were within a few feet of the top. On more than one occasion I have been able to see them swimming right under me and could catch doubles (tandem rig) every time I simply lowered my jigs into the water with only a rod length of line out from the rod tip.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There have also been a couple of times when I could not find fish on the bottom, but found schools of fish suspended at mid depth. Suspecting chubs, carp or trout, I delayed actively working them...until I caught a couple of perch while halfway back in on a retrieve.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]During the warm part of the summer, fish are likely to seek layers of water that are cooler or which have better pH or oxygen levels. We see that all the time with trout and kokanee, but it is not as common with perch...in most lakes. But, Starvation is deep enough that it can stratify and develop layers with a few degrees difference in temperature or a couple of points higher or lower in certain chemical properties.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Earlier in the summer, I know a couple of walleye trollers that were scoring lots of walleyes by trolling crankbaits only a few feet deep over 50 feet of water. That is not uncommon in the Great Lakes, and other large walleye waters, but is relatively unknown in Utah.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If nothing else, it underscores the importance of having good sonar and knowing how to use it. It also helps to know the species you are after and how they behave in the waters you are fishing.[/#0000ff]
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