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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
If you would like to Ask the Captain a question, please click HERE.
July 29, 2004
Perch are stealing the thunder from walleye
My wife, Cindy is not the world's best angler. But she is not squeamish about cutting a nightcrawler in half and putting it on a size 6 hook, either. She was fishing before I could set up my professional two-hook minnow rig.
We were anchored in 55 feet of water, one mile offshore and one-half mile west of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission marina at North East. Cindy dropped the bait to the bottom; then, raised it a few inches. A minute later, a perch, fat and about 12 inches was in the cooler.
It didn't take long for Cindy to take her limit of 20 on nightcrawlers. I took my limit on minnows. During the fast action, we only caught a few perch that were under the 8-inch minimum size. 10 years ago, we wouldn't have thought about fishing for perch.
Not since the 1980's have perch levels been this high on Lake Erie, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stated in an annual report. In fact, back in 1981, the PF&BC did a creel survey. It showed that yellow perch was the number one species targeted by anglers fishing on Lake Erie. A creel survey in 2004 might show the same results as 1981.
It's the "ease of the catch," retired PF&BC Waterways Conservation Officer, John Bowser said in a previous interview about the resurgence of this fabulous fishery. "Youngsters can compete against seasoned anglers in the same boat with minimal skills being necessary. Add to this the value of catching a fish that sells retail for over ten dollars a pound and the creel is that much more attractive."
In the Review of the Lake Erie and Presque Bay yellow perch sport angling fisheries report (1997 - 2001) annual estimates of Lake Erie perch stock size (age 2 and older in Pennsylvania waters) have averaged 1.2 million fish during the period of 1996 - 2000. Most surprising, the same report stated the average number of perch caught by anglers during that same period was only 50,170.
But it is different now. This year, Lake Erie is expected to yield 500,000 perch to Pennsylvania anglers; resulting in many anglers switching their alliances from walleye to perch.
"The current perch fishing boom will go down in history just like the walleye fishing boom did in the 80's," Gary Huebel of Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle said. "Anglers need to take advantage of the fishing now."
And it is not hard.
First, bring bait, lots of it because the fast action will exhaust your bait supply. Nightcrawlers will work, but emerald shiners are the preferred bait, and everyone has their own special method of rigging the bait. Some use a single hook and weight and some use modified crappie rigs with spinners. But one set up that I have seen to be very effective is the 3-way swivel.
Use a medium action rod, non-stretch line such as Spider Wire or Fireline, three-way swivel, 12-pound test fluorocarbon leader, two ounce weight, and size 6 or 8 hook. The non-stretch line, which is used to detect the light strike of perch, is attached to one of the eyes of the three-way swivel. Tie on a five-foot fluorocarbon leader and hook to the other eye. Finally, attach 18 inches of line to the remaining eye and tie on the weight. Note: a heavy weight is used to ensure the bait reaches the bottom with the least of amount line and prevent bowing of line.
Then, find Route 5 and you will have easy access to three prime fishing areas: Presque Isle Bay, Walnut Creek Access, and North East.
Off Gull Point or the Lighthouse - both of which are accessed from Presque Isle Bay - are great places to fill a cooler with summer perch, said Bowser.
"Generally, the key is water depth," Bowser said. "If you are finding perch in forty three feet of water, you can usually find them across the western side in the same depth. The perch follow the bait, and the bait follow the thermocline." Target the 35 to 42 foot depths near the Lighthouse (at the Bay's entrance) or move two miles west to the 42 to 60 foot depths near Gull Point.
But if they aren't biting or quit biting, pull the anchor and "drift for the perch until you locate them," advised Deputy WCO, Randy Leighton, "and then settle in for your limit."
If action slows to stop - which is a rarity, lately - or if on another weekend you want to try elsewhere, you're not far from a popular alternative. Throughout summer and early fall, large schools of perch are found in the 40 to 50 foot depths just north of the PF&BC marina at Walnut Creek.
"Perch fishing from the Walnut Creek access continues to amaze Erie anglers," Heubel said. "It's the best fishing here since the 70's."
With so many opportunities for such a tasty fish it is not necessary to bore your spouse while trolling for walleye - go perch fishing. It is easy and fun, with a bright future for enjoyment.
"Good hatches during 1996 and 1998 will provide excellent fishing this year," Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission fisheries biologist, Chuck Murray said, "and an excellent 2001 hatch will provide good fishing for the next few years."
Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
<< Supplement >>
Dan asks:
I did wonder from this if there is a limit to how many perch can be taken. I know some people get caught up in it and fill their freezers, but will not really eat all they take (or they start selling it or giving it to everyone else). If recreational anglers take the most perch, and now everyone is out there in droves taking their limit day after day, are they impacting the long-term health of the fishery? If it is really like the 80s, did we overfish the walleye then and are we overfishing the perch now??
Few seem to be talking about this now, but if the perch dry up everyone will sure be talking about it then .....
Captain Dave's Response:
Dan,
Over fishing (sport and commercial) will not cause a decline in perch stock, only an environmental catastrophe will. That lesson was learned the hard way by the demise of the blue pike. Now, a protection is in place.
It is the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), which was established in 1955 by the Canadian/U.S. Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. The commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management among the state, provincial, tribal, and federal management agencies.
The GLFC has committees to study and recommend fishery management decisions for the Great Lakes. Of interest to us is the Lake Erie Committee (LEC), which is made up of fisheries managers representing Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario. Each year this group determines the status of Lake Erie fish stocks and sets the annual total allowable catch (TAC) in pounds, which is the estimated number of fish that can be taken from the lake without harming populations.
Here are the current members:
- Rick Hoopes, PA Fish and Boat Commission, Chair
- Mike Morencie, OMNR, Vice Chair
- William Culligan, New York State DNR
- Kurt Newman, MI DNR
- Roger Knight, ODNR
Yellow perch quotas for individual jurisdictions surrounding the lake are based on a formula involving surface area and past fishing performance. For example, the LEC determined – based on information received from biologists – to increase the TAC of perch from 9.9 million pounds in 2003 to 11 million pounds in 2004.
An area-based sharing formula determines the allocation of these fish among the five jurisdictions on the lake. For 2004, Ontario`s share is about 5.2 million pounds and Ohio’s is 5.1 million pounds. Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania share the remaining allocation.
What many anglers don`t realize is that this allocation includes the sport and commercial harvest, and each year the LEC adjusts the total allowable catch accordingly to protect the fishery. If reproduction numbers drop due to a poor hatch or if the TAC is over the limit recommend by the committee, limits are placed on future harvests.
"By pooling our resources to monitor and manage this great fishery, we’re helping to ensure a strong fish population and equitable distribution between our member states," said Roger Knight, ODNR’S Lake Erie Committee representative.
Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Links to the LEC and GLFC:
Great Lakes Fishery Commission -- Lake Erie Committee
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Dave Adams is an author and professional charter captain who operates D & D Charters on the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie.
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