One thing to note is that the many of the "ice fishing" rods on the market despite the price have extremely small eyelets that will freeze up constantly if you aren't in a tent. Same will go for the line on your reel,regardless of what they say in the marketing.
Tried to buy my way out of it with higher priced rods thinking the eyelets were somehow constructed better or with a better material but no go.
Its one thing that blows my mind how they can offer high priced rods (st.criox, mojo's, fenwick techna ice, IE) specific for ice fishing, yet the eyelets are so small they need to be cleaned every line drop at minimal and freeze up while you are jigging outdoors.
To me Ice fishing implies cold temperature.. Are manufacturers making the assumption that you will be using this gear in a tent just to justify the marketing of these rods with such small eyelets as outdoor/ice rods?? .
As for the perch, seems slow this season for quality perch. Been up to La Nonne a few times Lethargic fish lead you to basically finding a flat that they are moving to feed, or a contour up towards it and hoping that they
will show some interest in your presentation, for this reason I have been using my shanty the last few times I went out.
Last Saturday was among people racing from Edmonton to get there early, arriving just before 8 seeing already 10+ on the ice near the store drive on... 10 AM there were well over 100, and by 2PM was only 3 left due to small fish with little action...
Set up a camera and seeing there all small fish, east side, west side.
Deep or shallow didn't seem to make a difference.
If I caught 100-120 perch there this ice season have had only ONE over 11 and from what I see on the camera they are solo roamers that are few and far between.
With slow fishing like this a tent with a camera for me personally adds to the enjoyment, as well as gives you comfortable place to work on your presentation.