Perch 2026

[Tiller]

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 

[Darren Hurlburt]

Where you fishing, west, central, eastern part of the lake?


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[Tiller]

54 minutes ago, Darren Hurlburt said:

Where you fishing, west, central, eastern part of the lake?


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Eastern basin 

[Tiller]

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

[Triumphchaos83]

Any new reports on the perch bite. Trying to get the family out tomorrow afternoon 

[Tiller]

2 hours ago, Triumphchaos83 said:

Any new reports on the perch bite. Trying to get the family out tomorrow afternoon 

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 

[Triumphchaos83]

Where did you go out of?

[Tiller]

19 minutes ago, Triumphchaos83 said:

Where did you go out of?

Sp

[Thumbburn]

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[Sbflomike]

Bite slow for anyone else yesterday?

[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. 

[Sbflomike]

Thanks!

[Tiller]

Fished yesterday 4/27, was looking like a bust till a late miracle happened. They were shallow, one of the largest schools I may have ever seen, size class was incredible with 3 over 14.5”. Good portion spawned out but still plenty tight skein. Boxed our 2 man in about 2 hours time. 

[Sbflomike]

Wow nice! How shallow?

[Tiller]

On 4/28/2026 at 9:16 PM, Sbflomike said:

Wow nice! How shallow?

40s 

[Tiller]

5/1 found them very close to where they were the previous outing. Bite was very finicky and they were moving after every hook up. Hard to stay over them.
We boxed 30 in a few hours time, 2 coming in at 14.5” and one tipped the tape at a hair over 16. Chatter at the ramp was a lot of skunkings 

[Bills25]

Anyone starting to see perch school up yet?


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[Tiller]

And so it begins, first trip out for perch this fall, good constant action never had to move, 2 bonus smallmouth, a couple sheep head and a 15-16lb catfish 

[Pequod1]

That’s a great catch this time of year. Congrats on finding them.  I look every time I’m out and have only seen some small schools over 75’ 

[Tiller]

Perch love north-north/east winds, I’d be perching from here forward following a day or two of sustained winds from those directions 

[4426]

On 9/6/2026 at 1:19 PM, Tiller said:

And so it begins, first trip out for perch this fall, good constant action never had to move, 2 bonus smallmouth, a couple sheep head and a 15-16lb catfish 

Have a port or depth you’re willing to share? I tried out of Dunkirk in 45-70’ of water but couldn’t find any on Saturday 9/5

[Tiller]

The way perch move around nowadays coordinates don’t mean much unless your getting called in while it’s firing. Play the winds, n-e fish the inside, s-w take it offshore. Also if your searching and marking masses of sheephead or eyes pick up and run, I find perch like to be away from the bigger fish. 

[4426]

4 hours ago, Tiller said:

The way perch move around nowadays coordinates don’t mean much unless your getting called in while it’s firing. Play the winds, n-e fish the inside, s-w take it offshore. Also if your searching and marking masses of sheephead or eyes pick up and run, I find perch like to be away from the bigger fish. 

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it, really first time trying it for myself since I finally got a bow mounted trolling motor. Thought I found a school but ended up being sheephead

[Tiller]

It’s still very early, look for consistent action to start when surface temps reach 65 and below.
  when temps are in the 50s and  40s action will be at its peak as the perch are packing on the feed bag for winter.
  November is stellar but we contend with the winds that time of year