Perching this coming weekend 7-11-09

[Fish4Fun]

Don or anyone else out there ---

Have you any recent word if the perch are biting strong yet at 95th street?

So far as I am concerned it has not been so good....

I have been out the last two Saturday’s with two boats of fishermen and caught 40 fish between 7 guys two weeks ago and only 6 fish between 6 guys this past Friday. Using soft crawls. Not too good.

Most of the other boats out there had similar results. We just have not had the hard bite yet. Or have I missed it.

Any comments or commentary would be welcome.

Thank you in advance.

Tom

[Ed_r]

Isn't perch fishing closed for July to adults? July last I heard is only open to kids fishing for perch no adults. Unless the IL. powers that be realized how goofy that rule is and repealed it.

[Fish4Fun]

Ed,

I'm fishing Indiana waters. I launch from Hammond, IN and Have an Indiana Annual License with Salmon stamp. 95th street is about a 8 minute boat ride north. I also purchase annual non resident license in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Canada every year. And I posess an Illinois license with a salmon stamp.. So I'm good to go. I consider the money I spend for the licenses a good donation to wildlife and DNR in each state. I've been doing this for years. I've also met a few people who don't pruchase license and think that is just plain wrong.

Anyhow I'm still looking for 95th Street (Cal Park) fishing reports.

Tom

[Ed_r]

My Bad. I had assumed 95th st, meant you were fishing in IL. Wasn't sure if you knew or not, many people forget about it. Other than the Suntimes report of fish being caught, havent heard of anything. Good luck.

[Fish4Fun]

Thanks Ed.

I feel better now.

But you have a valid point for those that do not know - Illinois licensed fishermen are not allowed to fish for Lake Michigan Perch in July. (unless you are under 15 (or 16?) years of age.
I do believe in the fact all fishermen must purchase a current valid license before fishing in any state and obey the rules. It is all for a good cause - and allows us to have some fun.

Tom

[Dan Schultz]

I was out of Hammond Harbor on Sunday the 5th and picked up 14 13 inchers inside and then headed towards Jerose Park and found them schooled up in about 37 ft of water. I was fishing medium and baby roaches, soft shells did nothing. I hit all fish bottom bouncing, surprisingly most of the perch came on the medium roaches....bigger the bait bigger the catch is my motto. Ended up with 25 perch between 3 of us. I agree though it did seem like slim picking and had to work to find them. Started marking big blobs on the Lowrance and sure enough they were there. I'm not really sure what their summer patterns are but when in doubt go deep.

[HAUS]

Where have the perch gone , any one been out on lake michigain , last day out from Portage to Michigan city no fish . Did they go deep out into the lake or moving back towards cal park ?