Rockport Perch Jerkin' 8-6-24

[TubeDude]

Got an order from the extended fambly to make a big pot of “Pig Out Perch Chowder”.  I figured Rockport would be a good place to gather the main ingredient…perch.  I was right.
 
Launched about 7 am from the ramp.  Air temp 70 and water temp 70.  Amazing.   But the air temp warmed up to over 85 by noon departure. 
 

Started out by heading south…making S turns and watching TV.  Din’t see much.  But once I got to “Perch Point” the perch were there in abundance.  And they smacked everything I served them…as long as there was a bit of sweetener (worm) on the hook.  Got one on my first and last casts...and a lot in between.  Didn’t find any big ones today.  Almost all were between 7 – 10 inches…with many being in the 8-9 inch range.  And the sonar showed both the baby perch and the predators.

 
I moved south…toward the inlet area…looking for bigger fish.  But there wasn’t much showing on either sonar or my line after I left the first area.  So I went back and finished up there also.  Didn’t keep any for the first two hours.  Kept 20 the last hour before heading in.  Got off the water at 11 but spent some time loading up my gear and filleting my catch.  First time I ever used that fish cleaning station.


Pretty quiet on the lake today…at least the early part.  Only a couple of boats out and a couple of kayaks fishing.  But a little while before I bagged it a lone ski boat hit the water and headed straight for me.  They passed well within the proximity zone…waving a friendly wave.  I waved back…not using all my fingers.  Then…with a whole lake and no other fishermen in sight, they came back to make sure I could see and admire them.  And the skier even dumped a short distance away…just to be sure I didn’t miss the show.  I could see some other big boats pulling into the launch area so that was my cue to bag it.
 

One of the high points…or 3-points…of the day, was a pair of deer that wandered down to the lake to watch me for a few minutes.  And of course to get a drink.  Also got to watch the resident osprey doing his thing.  Love those birds.

[Cowboypirate]

I love watching the Osprey nests all they way from Henefer to RP. Tough birds sitting over thier young in hail storms or heat domes. But watching them hunt is a real treat. Glad the perch behaved i have a video dropping tonight for RP but is was a week or so ago. Big ones are getting harder to find from the shore. I expect the heat is driving them down a bit past my cast range again.

[TubeDude]

I love watching the Osprey nests all they way from Henefer to RP. Tough birds sitting over thier young in hail storms or heat domes. But watching them hunt is a real treat. Glad the perch behaved i have a video dropping tonight for RP but is was a week or so ago. Big ones are getting harder to find from the shore. I expect the heat is driving them down a bit past my cast range again.

Yeah, I found LOTS of fish close to shore.  But my two biggest came on dragging a whirly flig deeper.  In fact, I actually caught two fish at 42 feet.  Saw some "bottom anomalies" as I was cruising through and dropped down to see if maybe they were trout.  Nope.  Bigger perch.  Also got a few in 22 - 25 feet.

But the bigger perch may be feeding differently...and on bigger baby perch.  When there is a lot of food sometimes the predators will glut for only a few minutes each day and then just lay around and burp until they feed again. Here\s a pic of a baby perch that got barfed up.

[jjannie]

Glad ya got out there, sounds like a fun day for sure! That baby perch looks to be about minnow sized. was any lure color better than another?

[TubeDude]

Glad ya got out there, sounds like a fun day for sure! That baby perch looks to be about minnow sized. was any lure color  better than another?

Pale perch in 3 or 4 different lure models...and an ultra minnow in gold with orange spots.  When the predators are patterning on perch, anything with vertical bars that vaguely resembles a mini perch will usually get bit.   But, then again, when perch are schooling and competing for food there ain't much they won't hit.  I probably caught the most on a "flat rinkee" in the pale perch color...1/16 oz.

[the_eagle]

any smallies caught hunting the perch ? the last 3 or 4 times up there we were getting nice smallies , 12" -15" , around the perch....haven't been up there in a couple weeks and looking to go tomorrow but if the perch have gone deep i would assume the smallies have followed .

[TubeDude]

any smallies caught hunting the perch ? the last 3 or 4 times up there we were getting nice smallies , 12" -15" , around the perch....haven't been up there in a couple weeks and looking to go tomorrow but if the perch have gone deep i would assume the smallies have followed .

I usually throw some cranks and/or larger plastics when fishing for smallies.  But I also often catch a few on the same stuff I am using for perch.  Yesterday I was focused on getting enough perch for a chowder and was limited on time so I didn't deliberately try for smallies...or catch any by accident.  

No worries about the fish going deeper.  As long as the baby perch stay in the shallows for protection the perch and smallies will be nearby.  The smallies won't "go deep" again until water temps coold down below 60 in the fall.  You can catch them all summer and early fall with all your fave stuff.  Topwater can even be good early in the am.

[luan87us]

Thank for the report! I'm new to the forum and been wanting to learn more from everyone here to get on some walleyes and perch this year on my kayak. I've fished Rockport plenty before but usually head north from the boat ramp. Do you mind sharing where approximately this "perch point" is at? Thanks in advance.

[TubeDude]

Thank for the report! I'm new to the forum and been wanting to learn more from everyone here to get on some walleyes and perch this year on my kayak. I've fished Rockport plenty before but usually head north from the boat ramp. Do you mind sharing where approximately this "perch point" is at? Thanks in advance.

Rockport is pretty much like all of our lakes.  Some spots are usually pretty good.  While others are hot only for a brief time each year...depending on water levels, water temps, etc.  Helps to have fished them a bunch of times over several full years of changing conditions.  

I have usually had good luck fishing the shoreline to the north mainly in the low water fall conditions  But on any given day you can find pockets of fish almost anywhere.  This time of year...and with higher water...I usually do better either going south...from Perch Point to the inlet...or going across the lake and fishing the steep rocky shoreline below the road.  Attaching a map with X marks the spot (perch point).  Not worried about it being overrun and fished out.  Could never happen on a perch-rich pond like Rockport.  But it might generate a few more tangler visits.  If it gets crowed, just keep prospecting along the shoreline to the south.  Almost always fish along there...but sometimes at varying depths.  And if you throw some big plastics along that shoreline there are usually some good smallies too.  Think Ned rigs.

[chubby chaser]

Got an order from the extended fambly to make a big pot of “Pig Out Perch Chowder”.  I figured Rockport would be a good place to gather the main ingredient…perch.  I was right.
 
Launched about 7 am from the ramp.  Air temp 70 and water temp 70.  Amazing.   But the air temp warmed up to over 85 by noon departure. 
 

Started out by heading south…making S turns and watching TV.  Din’t see much.  But once I got to “Perch Point” the perch were there in abundance.  And they smacked everything I served them…as long as there was a bit of sweetener (worm) on the hook.  Got one on my first and last casts...and a lot in between.  Didn’t find any big ones today.  Almost all were between 7 – 10 inches…with many being in the 8-9 inch range.  And the sonar showed both the baby perch and the predators.

 
I moved south…toward the inlet area…looking for bigger fish.  But there wasn’t much showing on either sonar or my line after I left the first area.  So I went back and finished up there also.  Didn’t keep any for the first two hours.  Kept 20 the last hour before heading in.  Got off the water at 11 but spent some time loading up my gear and filleting my catch.  First time I ever used that fish cleaning station.


Pretty quiet on the lake today…at least the early part.  Only a couple of boats out and a couple of kayaks fishing.  But a little while before I bagged it a lone ski boat hit the water and headed straight for me.  They passed well within the proximity zone…waving a friendly wave.  I waved back…not using all my fingers.  Then…with a whole lake and no other fishermen in sight, they came back to make sure I could see and admire them.  And the skier even dumped a short distance away…just to be sure I didn’t miss the show.  I could see some other big boats pulling into the launch area so that was my cue to bag it.
 

One of the high points…or 3-points…of the day, was a pair of deer that wandered down to the lake to watch me for a few minutes.  And of course to get a drink.  Also got to watch the resident osprey doing his thing.  Love those birds.

Im curious, for a "sweetener" have you ever tried using the gulp maggots?  I wonder if they would attract perch as good as a worm?

[MrShane]

Thank for the report! I'm new to the forum and been wanting to learn more from everyone here to get on some walleyes and perch this year on my kayak. I've fished Rockport plenty before but usually head north from the boat ramp. Do you mind sharing where approximately this "perch point" is at? Thanks in advance.

Rockport is pretty much like all of our lakes.  Some spots are usually pretty good.  While others are hot only for a brief time each year...depending on water levels, water temps, etc.  Helps to have fished them a bunch of times over several full years of changing conditions.  

I have usually had good luck fishing the shoreline to the north mainly in the low water fall conditions  But on any given day you can find pockets of fish almost anywhere.  This time of year...and with higher water...I usually do better either going south...from Perch Point to the inlet...or going across the lake and fishing the steep rocky shoreline below the road.  Attaching a map with X marks the spot (perch point).  Not worried about it being overrun and fished out.  Could never happen on a perch-rich pond like Rockport.  But it might generate a few more tangler visits.  If it gets crowed, just keep prospecting along the shoreline to the south.  Almost always fish along there...but sometimes at varying depths.  And if you throw some big plastics along that shoreline there are usually some good smallies too.  Think Ned rigs.

Lots of those striped devil’s in RP, they need to be thinned out and put in hot oil.
Went there last Fri looking for some four year old Kokes.
Was setting back a silver dodger/pink squid combo about 40’ behind boat in 91’ water.
Right when putting line in clip something grabbed my squid.
Reeled in about a 6” Perch.
Very hungry…..and lost.

[TubeDude]

Im curious, for a "sweetener" have you ever tried using the gulp maggots?  I wonder if they would attract perch as good as a worm?

I haven't ever tried the maggots, but I have caught a lot of perch on the small Gulp minnows...1" or so.  Have also caught some on larger 3" Gulp minnows while fishing for other species.  And a small piece of perch meat is usually well received...and stays on the hook better than crawlers.  I suspect that anything with a bit of the right kind of smell will get munched.

---

Lots of those striped devil’s in RP, they need to be thinned out and put in hot oil.
Went there last Fri looking for some four year old Kokes.
Was setting back a silver dodger/pink squid combo about 40’ behind boat in 91’ water.
Right when putting line in clip something grabbed my squid.
Reeled in about a 6” Perch.
Very hungry…..and lost.

Definitely a "sustainable" population in that pond.  Like most perch waters of the past, when there is a lot of bigger perch they produce lots of babies...and the bigger ones feed on their own young.  Almost becomes a biological perpetual motion machine.

In the glory days of Yuba there was no other forage base in the lake except the young of the year perch.  And the bigguns were able to spawn enough each year to feed all of the predators...perch, walleyes, pike, and catfish.  But as soon as there was a big drought...right after the year 2000...water  levels dropped and there was no perch spawn.  And the whole lake died.  

Doubt we will ever see that in Rockport, but who knows.  Both Starvation and Jordanelle had big perch dieoffs and the fish populations plummeted.  And once the smallies began eating up all the baby perch in Deer Creek before they could get any size that lake took a nosedive too.  Still some good fishing but not like the good old days.

Now if DWR could only come up with a cross between perch and kokes....

[luan87us]

Thank for the report! I'm new to the forum and been wanting to learn more from everyone here to get on some walleyes and perch this year on my kayak. I've fished Rockport plenty before but usually head north from the boat ramp. Do you mind sharing where approximately this "perch point" is at? Thanks in advance.

Rockport is pretty much like all of our lakes.  Some spots are usually pretty good.  While others are hot only for a brief time each year...depending on water levels, water temps, etc.  Helps to have fished them a bunch of times over several full years of changing conditions.  

I have usually had good luck fishing the shoreline to the north mainly in the low water fall conditions  But on any given day you can find pockets of fish almost anywhere.  This time of year...and with higher water...I usually do better either going south...from Perch Point to the inlet...or going across the lake and fishing the steep rocky shoreline below the road.  Attaching a map with X marks the spot (perch point).  Not worried about it being overrun and fished out.  Could never happen on a perch-rich pond like Rockport.  But it might generate a few more tangler visits.  If it gets crowed, just keep prospecting along the shoreline to the south.  Almost always fish along there...but sometimes at varying depths.  And if you throw some big plastics along that shoreline there are usually some good smallies too.  Think Ned rigs.

Thank you for sharing that map. I have a lot of luck with the smallies there over the years (caught my pb smallies there) but never catch any other species there from the kayak. I'll hopefully be able to come up this weekend and give your advices a try. Just barely got a Lowrance hook reveal 7x unit set up with my kayak.

[MrShane]

Im curious, for a "sweetener" have you ever tried using the gulp maggots?  I wonder if they would attract perch as good as a worm?

I haven't ever tried the maggots, but I have caught a lot of perch on the small Gulp minnows...1" or so.  Have also caught some on larger 3" Gulp minnows while fishing for other species.  And a small piece of perch meat is usually well received...and stays on the hook better than crawlers.  I suspect that anything with a bit of the right kind of smell will get munched.

---

Lots of those striped devil’s in RP, they need to be thinned out and put in hot oil.
Went there last Fri looking for some four year old Kokes.
Was setting back a silver dodger/pink squid combo about 40’ behind boat in 91’ water.
Right when putting line in clip something grabbed my squid.
Reeled in about a 6” Perch.
Very hungry…..and lost.

Definitely a "sustainable" population in that pond.  Like most perch waters of the past, when there is a lot of bigger perch they produce lots of babies...and the bigger ones feed on their own young.  Almost becomes a biological perpetual motion machine.

In the glory days of Yuba there was no other forage base in the lake except the young of the year perch.  And the bigguns were able to spawn enough each year to feed all of the predators...perch, walleyes, pike, and catfish.  But as soon as there was a big drought...right after the year 2000...water  levels dropped and there was no perch spawn.  And the whole lake died.  

Doubt we will ever see that in Rockport, but who knows.  Both Starvation and Jordanelle had big perch dieoffs and the fish populations plummeted.  And once the smallies began eating up all the baby perch in Deer Creek before they could get any size that lake took a nosedive too.  Still some good fishing but not like the good old days.

Now if DWR could only come up with a cross between perch and kokes....

I am old enough to have taken advantage of the Perch boom in all those lakes you mentioned, even Yuba.
I have not taken advantage of Willard, blame it on Goose season.

[TubeDude]

I am old enough to have taken advantage of the Perch boom in all those lakes you mentioned, even Yuba.
I have not taken advantage of Willard, blame it on Goose season.

I'm surprised.  I know you to be a serious perch jerker...and also a prodigious shooter of fowl and fauna.  But I can't believe you have completely avoided the ever more popular fall perchin' at Willard...just to subject yourself to the vicissitudes of Utah goosin'.  With the "average" perch from Willard coming in around 11-12",  and some getting over 15", it is the closest we are likely to get in Utah of matching the glory days of Yuba.  And Willard is closer.  

It has been awhile since we have ganged up on the fishies together.  But if you are up to it, I will lower my standards and get in your boat with you again this fall for a personal introduction to some of Willards "tiger fish".  

In case you missed this when I posted it a while back, I am attaching one of my PDF writeups on the subject.  I also put up a video on this subject. WILLARD PERCH VIDEO

[MrShane]

I am old enough to have taken advantage of the Perch boom in all those lakes you mentioned, even Yuba.
I have not taken advantage of Willard, blame it on Goose season.

I'm surprised.  I know you to be a serious perch jerker...and also a prodigious shooter of fowl and fauna.  But I can't believe you have completely avoided the ever more popular fall perchin' at Willard...just to subject yourself to the vicissitudes of Utah goosin'.  With the "average" perch from Willard coming in around 11-12",  and some getting over 15", it is the closest we are likely to get in Utah of matching the glory days of Yuba.  And Willard is closer.  

It has been awhile since we have ganged up on the fishies together.  But if you are up to it, I will lower my standards and get in your boat with you again this fall for a personal introduction to some of Willards "tiger fish".  

In case you missed this when I posted it a while back, I am attaching one of my PDF writeups on the subject.  I also put up a video on this subject. WILLARD PERCH VIDEO

I have read it and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
The only reason I have not been before is because of my disease of wanting to lay in the snow and ice for hours waiting for a flock of Honkers to descend on me low and slow.
I would be privileged to go to Willard this fall with you, what is your favorite week to go?
I don’t winterize my boat so it can be as late as you want.
I will even throw in a heater for our fingertips if it is late as I think you like to go.
Sorry I did not get you up to DC.
My wife and I have lost 3 out of the 4 of our parents in last 16 months with 2 of them being mine.
I am their executor and I can’t believe how much paperwork still needed to be completed for months and months after their passing.
I have an Elk hunt next week and that is my only big game tag for the year so let’s get this date on the calendar and I will make it happen!

[TubeDude]

I have read it and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
The only reason I have not been before is because of my disease of wanting to lay in the snow and ice for hours waiting for a flock of Honkers to descend on me low and slow.
I would be privileged to go to Willard this fall with you, what is your favorite week to go?
I don’t winterize my boat so it can be as late as you want.
I will even throw in a heater for our fingertips if it is late as I think you like to go.
Sorry I did not get you up to DC.
My wife and I have lost 3 out of the 4 of our parents in last 16 months with 2 of them being mine.
I am their executor and I can’t believe how much paperwork still needed to be completed for months and months after their passing.
I have an Elk hunt next week and that is my only big game tag for the year so let’s get this date on the calendar and I will make it happen!

As with most Utah fishing, every year seems to shape up differently...with the fish showing up more in some places than others...or preferring different lures, baits or presentations.  But as a general rule, the perch start showing up by late September and usually get progressively more catchable right up until iceup...which is usually around the first week or so in December.  But this last year the lake did not cap until February...and I caught perch from my float tube all through December and into January.  

If we were to make any kind of advance plans, I would target somewhere around the middle of November.  But whatever plans we make will be tempered with current conditions and reports from other perch jerkers.  Of course, I will be conducting my own research throughout the period and should have some personal insights to help guide our final plans.

I hear ya on the aftermath of parents' passing.  I moved both of my parents in with me in Arizona for the final years of their lives.  Both were in bad health, with my dad being in advanced stages of Alzheimers.  Endless visits to doctors and hospital stays.  My dad passed in August of 2003 and my mother almost exactly one year later.  They were not wealthy but there are always details to be handled and final expenses to be dealt with.  

I lost my oldest son a year ago to lingering bad health.  And a couple of months ago we lost a troubled granddaughter to suicide.  That's tough for even a hardened old bird like me.  No matter how much we think we can handle, there are always things that remind us of our own fragility and mortality.  

Thankfully, there is fishing and other outdoor pursuits for therapy.

[MrShane]

I have read it and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
The only reason I have not been before is because of my disease of wanting to lay in the snow and ice for hours waiting for a flock of Honkers to descend on me low and slow.
I would be privileged to go to Willard this fall with you, what is your favorite week to go?
I don’t winterize my boat so it can be as late as you want.
I will even throw in a heater for our fingertips if it is late as I think you like to go.
Sorry I did not get you up to DC.
My wife and I have lost 3 out of the 4 of our parents in last 16 months with 2 of them being mine.
I am their executor and I can’t believe how much paperwork still needed to be completed for months and months after their passing.
I have an Elk hunt next week and that is my only big game tag for the year so let’s get this date on the calendar and I will make it happen!

As with most Utah fishing, every year seems to shape up differently...with the fish showing up more in some places than others...or preferring different lures, baits or presentations.  But as a general rule, the perch start showing up by late September and usually get progressively more catchable right up until iceup...which is usually around the first week or so in December.  But this last year the lake did not cap until February...and I caught perch from my float tube all through December and into January.  

If we were to make any kind of advance plans, I would target somewhere around the middle of November.  But whatever plans we make will be tempered with current conditions and reports from other perch jerkers.  Of course, I will be conducting my own research throughout the period and should have some personal insights to help guide our final plans.

I hear ya on the aftermath of parents' passing.  I moved both of my parents in with me in Arizona for the final years of their lives.  Both were in bad health, with my dad being in advanced stages of Alzheimers.  Endless visits to doctors and hospital stays.  My dad passed in August of 2003 and my mother almost exactly one year later.  They were not wealthy but there are always details to be handled and final expenses to be dealt with.  

I lost my oldest son a year ago to lingering bad health.  And a couple of months ago we lost a troubled granddaughter to suicide.  That's tough for even a hardened old bird like me.  No matter how much we think we can handle, there are always things that remind us of our own fragility and mortality.  

Thankfully, there is fishing and other outdoor pursuits for therapy.

I am semi-retired so we can make it almost anytime.
Sorry about your son and granddaughter.
Nobody should have to bury a younger family member.