Tiller

Bite was slow off Hamburg yesterday. Picked away at small roaming pods. I know some people who did exceptional. I figure it depends on the school you find with the spawn almost being full swing. Couple week lull and it’ll heat back up again. Most guys switch over to eyes by then but the post spawn bite late may-June is phenomenal.

Sp

Fished today, found plenty of big schools but the bite was tough. I’d guess about 40% of the hens I caught today were spawned out. But I did get a 15.25” that was measured by the dec. ended with 25 in a solo half day trip. This is when heading east usually shines. Trying a different area tomorrow

Back out this morning first light, flat lake and a nice overcast. From yesterday not having another boat insight to the fleet finding us today. Everyone played nice and was catching a few. Took a little bit to get them going but we hammered them. Boxed our 100 by 830 and headed in

Eastern basin

Best time of the year is here boys, first trip out today 3 hours of searching and struck the jackpot. boxed our two man in less then 2 hours. Mostly sows few nice males in the mix. Should only get better from here

The day started off as the previous 2. Hours in and miles covered with 0 to show. Starting to question why I’m even trying. Ripping up new spots and areas I normally don’t look them, At about hour 7 when almost all hope was lost, coming off of a hump into a sand flat was a mega and they weren’t moving. Could easily have gotten my 50 but called it quits at 25. Landed 4 bonus eyes keeping 1 of them. They needed a little encouragement with a perch eye tipped on a buckshot spoon.

I talked to the Dec survey kids both days and they said no one is catching any perch and quite a few guys are targeting them. Things could change any day now tho. Ill be back at it again tomorrow trying off Hamburg

Over the last two days, I’ve put in over 16 hours, from silver creek to east of sp, depths from 40-78fow. For a total of 0 perch. Haven’t even bothered to drop a line anywhere. I’ve never seen this before

An ice maker was the best investment that I’ve made, bleeding those fish right on ice and making sure they stay packed to ensure freshness total night and day difference. I on average use 15lbs of ice in the cooler and haven’t bought a bag in the last three years. Getting back in late little too tired, they keep fine to process the day after.

Fished Saturday 9/27/25. Headed way east to avoid the eyes. Had a flurry first light of good size. That died out and took it offshore running thru countless spots and depths. Nothing going. Back inshore more west, handful of my milk run spots that were completely void. 1 last spot to check before heading in. jackpot 44-46fow. Size was excellent and the bite was steady. Picked 20 real quick and called it good enough. Hopefully these cold nights coming up start kicking it off. Seems a few weeks behind imo

Add in glow colored jigging raps especially in low light conditions. Can’t go wrong with spoons either. I’ve had great success with the og classics like silver, gold, copper kastmasters and Swedish pimples. Shiver minnows and moonshine jigging spoons. Aswell as my personal favorite perch spoon the buckshot. Colors like hot orange and yellows, golds and browns and smelt patterns. Modern day spoons made in tungsten help you get down faster when the school is hot producing faster limits. General weight range I’m shooting for is 1/4-3/8oz depending on how aggressive they are and conditions such as waves and currents. Light braid in the 2-6lb range with 15’ of 6lb fluro leader on a 4’ UL rod is my standard.

For perch on Erie I exclusively use the 5/16oz 2” jigging rap. Top colors year to year consistently being the gold/balck, silver/black, rainbow trout, and goby colored. With my best color which has taken more perch then all the other baits combined being the parrot colored blue/chartreuse. That day I was using the clown color which I normally don’t use very much.

Fished yesterday evening, first decent perch bite of the fall. Not stellar but good. Found some large schools from 68-71fow suspended about 10-15 off bottom. Average size was good with some real fattys mixed in. Plain jigging rap was the best bait. Reeling up to suspended marks produces bonus walleye catches.