Why are my perch so deep?

[Burbot Sherbet]

I’ve been fishing the same small lake in Woodlands County very often over about a five year period and the perch have always been found in the same shallow, gravelly bottomed, reedy areas. I’ve seen them moderately deeper later in the winter, though.

This winter, I went right to the usual haunts and found no perch at all. After a couple trips only catching Jackfish, I steeled my resolve for a hundred hole day and eventually found a healthy school of perch in the deepest hole in the lake; literally the last place I looked for them! What are my perch doing so deep, so early in the season?

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by Burbot Sherbet

I’ve been fishing the same small lake in Woodlands County very often over about a five year period and the perch have always been found in the same shallow, gravelly bottomed, reedy areas. I’ve seen them moderately deeper later in the winter, though.



This winter, I went right to the usual haunts and found no perch at all. After a couple trips only catching Jackfish, I steeled my resolve for a hundred hole day and eventually found a healthy school of perch in the deepest hole in the lake; literally the last place I looked for them! What are my perch doing so deep, so early in the season?

Gorging on blood worms and mayfly larvae likely. Maybe your shallow spots had a poor shrimp recruitment year. Fish go where the food is.

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[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Brandonkop

Gorging on blood worms and mayfly larvae likely. Maybe your shallow spots had a poor shrimp recruitment year. Fish go where the food is.

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Yup.

Factors affecting distribution can include:

Available food. More food will attract more fish
Structure. Gravel bottom is not typically high quality perch habitat
Predation. Pike could drive them away
Oxygen. Simply they go where oxygen is highest
Population numbers. Over population they spread out more. Under populated stay in prime spots
Temperature. Depending more on time of year

[Burbot Sherbet]

Fascinating! Next time I’m out, I’ll drop a camera and see if I can see what they’re eating and maybe adjust my presentation to mimic it. It’s funny, I think about these things in the summer, but on the ice I tend to use the same tungsten jig and minnow heads no matter what.

[TROLLER]

You can also open one up and then you know exactly what they are eating.

[Red Bullets]

During first ice the lake water is turning over which might influence fish movements too.

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

During first ice the lake water is turning over which might influence fish movements too.

Sorry I know people don't like when i try to correct, but I dont like misconceptions being given. Turnover happens in the fall when lake temperatures hit 4 degrees celsius and the water gets all turbid and junk floating. Once the ice is on it means the surface temp is 0 degrees celsius and there is no more turnover occuring. This is why the water is usually jin clear on a lot of lakes that you cannot see through a few weeks earlier. The water is super oxygenated first ice so oxygen is not really a factor for their choice location and the fish will be spread out wherever they want. Also may be super active and sometimes feeding heavily because of oxygen rich environment. Especially cold water species like trout.

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[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Brandonkop

Sorry I know people don't like when i try to correct, but I dont like misconceptions being given. Turnover happens in the fall when lake temperatures hit 4 degrees celsius and the water gets all turbid and junk floating. Once the ice is on it means the surface temp is 0 degrees celsius and there is no more turnover occuring. This is why the water is usually jin clear on a lot of lakes that you cannot see through a few weeks earlier. The water is super oxygenated first ice so oxygen is not really a factor for their choice location and the fish will be spread out wherever they want. Also may be super active and sometimes feeding heavily because of oxygen rich environment. Especially cold water species like trout.

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I don't mind being corrected. Thanks. I realize the mistake I made.

[Poppa]

Interesting topic. Yesterday we were out at Badger and found a 22ft hole (looking for walleye) but only saw schools of perch. Dozens and dozens of them. I was very surprised to see them that deep. One 5lb Pike at that depth but otherwise only perch.

[fish99]

in the winter I almost always find perch in the deepest water , unless they are eating whitefish eggs.

[Talking moose]

Yup. Fish deep. Last year at laclanonne, the perch were in 30-40 fow. Which sucks because ever one is now a keeper. Luckily they were of nice size.

[Burbot Sherbet]

So if you’re fishing deep, at what depth does the barotrauma necessitate all perch becoming keepers? I’ve got a depth release rig I was using for rockfish on the west coast this summer but I feel like dink perch would be to small to effectively release that way.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Burbot Sherbet

So if you’re fishing deep, at what depth does the barotrauma necessitate all perch becoming keepers? I’ve got a depth release rig I was using for rockfish on the west coast this summer but I feel like dink perch would be to small to effectively release that way.

Seems like around the 30 foot mark and up, sometimes 35 feet, their bladders will be protruding out their mouths or eyes bulging out or both.

[aulrich]

I was thinking about converting a little wire waste basket into a deep release device. A rope on the bottom and weights on the top lip, I figure you could give the fish an elevator ride down to 20-25 feet and then they should be able to swim out

[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by aulrich

I was thinking about converting a little wire waste basket into a deep release device. A rope on the bottom and weights on the top lip, I figure you could give the fish an elevator ride down to 20-25 feet and then they should be able to swim out

this would actually be cool to see. strap a gopro into the basket lol

[pikeman06]

So you stuff their airbladder and eyeballs back in with your fingers, then you put the dead perch in your little wire basket with a camera in it and watch the dead perch float back to the surface? Cool is right!

[aulrich]

No the water pressure does it for you.

Apparently deep release devices are standard equipment for west coast rockfish even mandatory in some places .

The theory is that once you get them down far enough and the pressure returns to normal, they just swim away.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...shconservation

[Smoky buck]

I do find these devices interesting but wish the was more footage of the fish after the release to truly judge it. I know it doesn’t fix blown eyeballs so that issue still exists

Still better then the old throw them back and cross your fingers

[Poppa]

the short answer here is "don't target a fish deeper than 25fow unless you're absolutely intent on keeping it".......also, don't ever target a trophy at that depth. Trophies need to go back.

[Pioneer2]

Perch freeze solid on the lake and start swimming around in the sink when you get home?

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Yup. Fish deep. Last year at laclanonne, the perch were in 30-40 fow. Which sucks because every one is now a keeper. Luckily they were of nice size.

Best way

Originally Posted by pikeman06

So you stuff their airbladder and eyeballs back in with your fingers, then you put the dead perch in your little wire basket with a camera in it and watch the dead perch float back to the surface? Cool is right!

Agree. Once bladder and eyes are out, damage is done they will very likely die.

Originally Posted by Poppa

the short answer here is "don't target a fish deeper than 25 fow unless you're absolutely intent on keeping it".......also, don't ever target a trophy at that depth. Trophies need to go back.

Agree, right way 25' or less. Or use a camera so you can at least be selective on which fish gets a ride to the surface.