Echo, Glutton for Punishment 1-5-14

[The_Red_Leaker]

After my first trip to Echo a couple weeks back where I had a fair day catching some large perch, I can't let it go. Today was my third day back to chase those perch again.

No go.... they are there, they are big, 12" plus, but they will not open their d@%n mouth for anything. They come running when you jig and they even chase the bait up but just don't take it.

Sad part is I took a few guys from work and one of their kids thinking I could get them into a few trout while I satisfied my chase of the yellow. No go there either, my jawjacker got the only fish of the day. 16" skinny, sickly male bow. Oh well, lake was gorgeous, sun was out and company was good.

If you have some fail proof perch tactics get up there cause the quality is awesome, hopefully you have better luck than I.
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[PIKEMAN99]

TRL

Hey it sounds funny to have you admit the Perch are whipping your butt. I only caught 2 myself today. I dont think there is a magic jig that makes those things come alive. I think its a thing called ringing the dinner bell. Because a lot of days you can be there where the fish are and have what they usually bite on and if that dinner bell doesnt ring you dont get none. Now that fish finder you got is so good you can tell how many inches they are? Or does it just spell out J_U_M_B_O. LoL
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[trfishin]

sorry to hear that the fishing was slow I think we have all seen days like that where it takes a lot of talking to them to get them on the ice. Just remember they are there and you will be back for them[cool]

How was the edges of the ice where you got on and off? do you need a plank like usual down there so you don't get wet feet getting on and off? I might get down there soon and if its soft around the edges like usual I will bring my plank so I don't get wet thanks and good luck fishing
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[The_Red_Leaker]

Funny is one word, I can think of others[].
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[The_Red_Leaker]

Edges are solid, so far no plank needed at all. Good luck....
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[trfishin]

thanks for the ice update and fishing report
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[Kalastaja]

There are a lot of window shoppers out there right now. Like Pikeman said its about ringing the dinner bell. One method that is working right now is to run and gun. Find the few aggressive perch that respond with a bite, and then move to the next hole. Using a rattle spoon will "call" perch in from up to 50 ft away, so the 5-10 minute rule applies to run and gun type of fishing. This type of fishing is labor intensive but has potential to produce fish at otherwise seemingly slow times. I hope this helps or inspires some ideas because the chase is half the game.
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[The_Red_Leaker]

Thanks for the advice, next time out I'll give the run and gun a try. That method works better without company and I had my daughter in the tent that day too so we were pretty much stationary after the initial walk.

However, I have watched others (including Pikeman and Co.) employ the run and gun method while I have stayed put in an area with fish or at least cruising through fish on tough days, and I have done just as well if not better. Not always but enough times that I generally stay put once I find them.

So a perch behavior question; do they cruise around a general area and if so how big of an area or do they just cruise around?

Or I guess the better question would be am I sitting over basically the same fish all day or are new ones cruising in and out?
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[skis_flies_ice]

I had some wet socks coming off of echo back around Christmas. Went in about knee deep for a second. It is low enough that soft edges could occur with a warm moist storm, and an inflow of water raising the level. Just didn't have that refreeze the warm day I was out there. Plank may not be a bad idea to get out to the safe ice, just in case. Heard that the fishes dinner bell has not been ringing out there.
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