Gonna try to get the little kids out tomorrow if my back and shoulder holds up. (Been fighting a herniated disc in my back now for a month.)
Anybody doing any good on the perch? I figure if I could get the kids over a pile of them they would be happy to use their new rods, and I could be entertained watching them catch fish.
Going to use Berry Spoons unless someone has a better idea.
If anyone has pinpointed them lately, please either post up the location or PM me if you don’t want it made public.
See my reports from New Years day and the one I posted under the Lake Murray forum on Tuesday. They were pretty deep Thursday. I prefer the 3/4 ounce Chrome Cotton Cordell spoons. Berry’s are good. They were my favorite spoons for years. The CCs have been better for me since last January. Based on what I saw Thursday, I would not be afraid to try as deep as 75’ if I went tomorrow. Be sure the water is very clear if you want to do well with the spoons.
We caught 32 today while pulling boards in 30-35’ of water. We could have caught as much as we wanted if we had stopped at sat on top of them. They were very aggressive. used the chrome cotton cordell spoon and some 1oz el cheapo academy had for 1.99 called a wahoo shad or something like that. Neat looking spoon and had a good hook on it. Although we fished much farther down lake than you probably want to ride to. We fished 4 miles from spence islands by the way the crow flies. If you want to give me a shout David.
Had 17 stripes as well but only 7 keepers (all around 7-8#) almost all the stripes came on boards. Did catch 3-4 on a downrod and 1 keeper came on a CC spoon…caught all fish from 9-2. Water temp was 53/54.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
David, I haven’t perch jerked since Richard Hall’s roundup in November. At that time, we caught 108 in 30-35 feet of water in Rocky and Buffalo. With all the rain, I think you should go below the Gap or to Crystal and look for bottom schools in 40-60 feet of water. That’s what I’d do for perch right now.
A friend fished Buffalo last Saturday. He said he had a hard time getting the spoon to the perch in 50’ due to the stripers getting the spoons before they got to the bottom. He had 1 striper over 6 lbs. and another around 8 1/2 lbs. If the water is still clear tomorrow the fish will probably still be there. They were off of the second point on the left heading into the creek.
If I was going tomorrow, based on what we saw and caught yesterday, I’d still be way below the gap in deeper water, 60’ to 70’. There were a lot of bait pods and fish down lake yesterday.
I caught 41 big perch Friday in the Johns creek area using medium shiners in 57 foot of water between 9 and 11:30 AM. The water is clear in this area. I found that when the stripers come through the big perch is running below them on the bottom.
We fished near Johns creek today. Tried live herring and the 3/4 ounce CC spoons. Managed 1 nice 24" striper and only a few perch. Then we downsized to 3/8 ounce spoons and the perch started cooperating. Finished up with 44 perch and the striper. Fish were more scattered than they were Thursday and not feeding as well. Caught them as shallow as 43’ and as deep as 63’. Baitfish pods were everywhere. We also marked lots of fish that would not bite anything. Stripers were hitting the herring but not taking them very well.
Good work Spoon! Guess you fished with “Monkey” on Saturday… You weren’t the only one calling me today wondering if I was fishing. I was back to work today in Lexington 2. I think there are a couple of districts that don’t go back until Wednesday.
Thanks for all of the info guys. I really want to get the kids on them so they can wear out their new rods they got for X-mas.
Going to make another run on them this weekend. I never got to go last weekend. Just was not feeling up to it.
I have not told anyone on the board yet, but I’ve been dealing with a herniated disc in my upper back/lower neck since the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It has definitely taken it’s toll on me…and caused me to slow down quite a bit.
I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone at the banquet tomorrow night.
Be careful and drive the boat slowly. Try not to cause more damage to that herniated disc.
We plan to try our luck near Johns creek again tomorrow. Had to downsize our spoons to 3/8 ounce last Saturday to get the perch to bite. I usually have around 20 or so spoons with me each time out, different name brands and sizes. The thing that puzzles me is how those deep fish can see what size and color the spoons are, especially on a cloudy day. All I know is that color and size both can make the difference between a few perch and a bunch of perch.
We fished near Johns creek yesterday. The perch had moved a long way from where we found them last week. The warmest water we found was 48 degrees, compared to as high as 54 last week. When we finally found some fish they wouldn’t hold in one place or bite nearly as well as they had been. They were scattered between 56’ and 74’. We had about as many missed hits as hookups. Only boated 1 largemouth and 14 perch. That’s about as bad as I have ever done on Murray. I guess the colder temps had everything transitioning and I didn’t figure it out as fast as I should. Oh well, I guess that’s why they call it fishing instead of catching. Atleast I’ll have a better idea of where to start on my next fishing trip.
Also, I started with a 3/8 ounce spoon since they hit it so well last week. Never had a bite on the 3/8 yesterday. All of the fish caught hit the 3/4 ounce chrome Cotton Cordell spoons.
The next time you go try some medium shiners on the bottom and they can’t stand it. I have been perch jerking or gigging for years and I have found the shiners to be as good or better than spoons. I found the arm do not get as tired. I would have been fishing Johns creek this weekend but my boat and motor is in the shop due to no reverse:roll_eyes:, but hope to be back next week. Good luck to all.
Sometimes, “lazy man fishing” is the ticket! You know I’m just having a little fun with you my dear “uncle-in-law.” Seriously, if I know I’ve got to have a big mess perch for a fry, minnows are not out of the question for me either. Even small slivers of cutbait are also effective.
I did not get to go striper fishing this weekend, because we had plans for today. Yesterday, I was tied up judging in Greenwood. Hope to get out Friday afternoon before the Saturday tournament since I’m free to go at 11 AM for putting in some extra time. It’s an inservice day, and we don’t have students… Sorry to read of your motor troubles.
I got my boat back today and ready to take white perch out of Lake Murray. Bob Foxworth at Foxworth Marine White Rock did the work of putting new cables and bushings on the motor. The cables has been on the boat since 1983 and was due. I have had Bob work on my boat 2 times and have been well pleased.
Greetings y’all… we fished Buffalo Creek in the west coves and south of Stinking Creek. Marked many fish, probably perch, but drifting and did not get a single bite. Used spoons and ratl-raps but not even a strike! We’ll be back out today looking for perch and stripers… perch make GREAT striper bait… just cut off the dorsal fin and hook just behind the dorsal. Sure could use some help on the spoons if anyone is out today… 920-6907 = cell
Do you have a trolling motor? If so, try to hold your boat directly over the fish you are marking, instead of drifting, and drop the spoons down to them. The spoons work best on fish that are actively feeding on baitfish that are on or very near the bottom. Suspended fish are usually a lot harder to catch. Also, I personally try to find the clearest water available when fishing the spoons. In the past weeks we’ve been catching fish as shallow as 43’ and as deep as 74’. I caught some mean virus and didn’t get to fish this week, but talked to a friend Saturday night who had caught over 70 perch. I almost always let the spoons hit the bottom on every drop. My two favorite spoons are the 1/2 ounce white/silver reflector Berry spoon and the 3/4 ounce chrome Cotton Cordell. I’m curious. Did you mean you were fishing Bear creek or were you covering water from Buffalo all the way to Stinker?
A friend asked me to take him and his son, who was out of school today, fishing today. Due to the fact that I struggled to catch rockfish in Saturday’s MSC tournament, I opted to try and catch some perch. Easily caught over 100. I weighed a couple of the biggest and they were 1 lb. 4 oz. and 1 lb. 5 oz. Had several that size, but most of the larger ones were around 3/4 lb. They never quit biting. The white/silver Berry’s, chrome Cotton Cordell, and gold Cotton Cordell all produced.
The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
You know I’m just having a little fun with you my dear “uncle-in-law.” Seriously, if I know I’ve got to have a big mess perch for a fry, minnows are not out of the question for me either. Even small slivers of cutbait are also effective.