Looks like you don't need any advice. Great job getting the fish to bite!!

catch a sucker or a chub and cut that up and use it for bait. The smallies will hit that as well too.

Good report, great catch. One of the baits for Perch that never fails is using the Perch eye. Take a couple of large paper clips with you, when you catch the first Perch remove the eyes with the paper clip, they pop right out undamaged, then put the Perch eye on your jig hook and you are ready, always worked for me, give it a try.

with the water temps being so cold, i'm pretty sure that's why the perch aren't biting aggressively. looks like you don't need any advice as you were able to locate and put a hurt on them! if you watch any ice fishing videos with underwater cams, you'll see that they more or less just come up to the bait and suck it in rather than strike it.

One day when the bass fishing was terrible, I was seeing large schools of perch at 30 ft. on my graph recorder. Because I had no worms, I put down a dropshot rig with a small 3 inch plastic worm. Got bit every once in a while, but nothing for the amout of fish I knew were down there. Came up with an idea. Smeared alittle Smelly Jelly on the plastic and put it back down. Within an hour I had as many perch as I cared to clean. I'm sure any fish attractent would work.

Thank you all for the good pointers.
This site rocks!

Perch meet is teasty! I love it!

Yes, danm, I can't wait to learn how to prepare em.
Been getting some good ideas on the interwebs.

Give up the ultralight rod. Replace it with a medium light 6-foot bass rod.....like a Diawa Tony Bean, or a Fenwick HMG. String your reel with 4 or 6 pound Seaguar flourocarbon. Put your bait on a drop shot rig, even if you're using a spoon, put a drop shot hook above it. You will feel the bite much more.....those ultralights are too mushy....the tip moves in the wind and thumps with the beat of your heart. Like others have said, this is a typical perch bite. They don't get much more aggressive, but it you change your gear, you will be surprised. As for bait, nothing is better than perch bellies or perch eyes.

Small crankbaits are the bomb when perch are active, but it's too cold now.
From the pics, it's obvious that you don't need any advice!
Mmm.... the only fish that tastes better than perch is walleye. (IMHO)

Braided mainline will help with feeling the bite and setting the hook when the fish are deep. On lake Washington the perch are in the 80' to 100' range during the winter feasting on shrimp, small white grubs are the ticket.
To prepare perch just fillet, remove the skin, batter and fry. I usually make my own batter, but I've heard real good things about Shore Lunch batter mixes.

Thanks ya'all......... really getting great feedback.
I agree the braided line's gotta improve the hoohups by eliminating the line stretch.
And the idea of a stiffer backbone rod certainly makes sense.
I was thinking just that while fishing Sunday when I'd jerk up to set the hook unsuccessfully.
My noodle-like ultralite rods do fine with the softmouthed Kokanee, bet these perch have mouths like steel.
Dave

I like using perch tounge LMAO nice catch thanks for the report!

looks like a porta-bote. Go porta-bote!

Yes.....a Porta-bote
REAL MEN FOLD THEIR BOATS WHEN FINISHED ;-)

Yes.....a Porta-bote
REAL MEN FOLD THEIR BOATS WHEN FINISHED ;-)

It's hard to beat maggots as a perch bait. The more sensitive your fishing rod, the beter u will do. Berkley fire line is also extremely sensitive and allows you to feel subtle bites in deep water. Most ultralite rods are graphite composite material. I prefer an ultra sensitive graphite rod, preferably with an IM-8 blank with ceramic fuji guides and a cork handle. Lundegard's advice is right on the money! The more sensitive the pole the more hookups you will get! Jiggy

Thanks Jiggy.
I will be getting some fire-line and see if I feel the difference.
The maggot idea scares. I've heard that to keep them fresh while fishing they must be kept between cheek and gum.