Slow Perch Day.

This morning was cold with a strong breeze from the north.  You know what they say?  If the wind is from the north do not venture forth.  That phrase was very correct this morning.  The south pier was lined up with fisherman hoping to catch some tasty Lake Erie Yellow Perch. 

Most guys left with nothing but a chill from off the lake.  I caught 1 fish and it was a good one (11 inches).  The guy next to me caught 4 fish, all keepers, and thanks to him I left with 5 fish in my bucket.  Everybody else that showed up early did pretty poorly and most early risers took off before I left at 8:30 am. 

Well, everyday can't be a great fishing day so maybe next time I go I will catch more.  Happy Hookin'

Perch Fishing Improving in Bay.

I set up in the dark this morning and right after light the bite was on.  I quickly caught 10 fish within the first 45 minutes, and the nice thing was that 7 of them were keepers.  Then it was like someone flicked the off switch.  The wind shifted from the south to the west and waves kicked up to about 1 footers.  Still not bad fishing conditions but for some reason the fish did not like it as well. 

I didn't have another bite within the next hour but a couple nice fish were being caught and the weather was not too bad so I decided to fish a little longer (plus the price of minnows is outrageous now so I gotta get my money's worth:).   Then I caught my two biggest fish of the day on a double to the applause of the other fisherman on the pier.  A few minutes later I caught a steelhead fry (about 6 inches) and then a few minutes after that I caught my last perch of the morning. 

The perch I caught today were nice sized fish ranging from 8 1/2 inches to 11 1/2 inches.   I kept 10 and had the most out of about 10 fisherman.   I did not catch the biggest fish, though.   A fisherman right next to me caught a big bullhead (15 or 16 inches), and a bigger drum which was the first one I've seen this season.

Here is how the other fisherman around me did.  One had 4 nice perch, One had 5 nice perch, and all the other guys had 2 or 3 when I left.   A few of the perch I saw were jumbo class (12 to 14 inches). 

I appeared to be the luckiest guy today but I have had my days of catching zip while others reeled them in.  Just the luck of the draw.  Happy Hooking!