MC perch 7-11

[jh31]

got out at 630 fishing was slow finally found them about 10o'clock had a 3 man limit by 1o'clock we were a few hundred yards west of black ditch in 20-22 fow fish were all 10 to 14 inches

[shackman]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the method of fishing and the best bait to use?

Thanks.

[jh31]

i just use crappie rigs with minnows tightlining over the side of the boat one guy in our boat was using a slip bobber set up and did pretty good with it hope that helps

[habitualeyer]

Same here. We use Crappie rigs (i have found the small hook version to be better than the large hook Crappie rigs). Would like to hear some other responses regarding this hook size comment.
I may also start throwing out a slip bobber on my rod #2. Just something about a bobber suddenly disappearing under the surface that seems exciting. If we keep slamming them in 20 ft or less...then i would imagine this would make a slip bobber all that easier to use.
Crappie rigs still are the go to presentation for putting fish in the boat. You pull a double (both over 11 inches) and you will quickly see why.

[shackman]

Thanks, guys for the information. You've been quite helpful.

[bassmaster]

Shackman,

Sometimes when things get slow, a different approach is to cast out the crappie rig with a fairly heavy weight, let it sink to the bottom then slowly drag it back.... I think the weight stirring up the sand sometimes gets their attention..... Just another method that works sometimes.

[ronwarnkehomes]

Saturday morning we were in Chief's Perch Tourny and it took us until almost 10 to find fish. We caught a three man limit by 11:15. The 30 fish stringer we entered weighed 13.85 and the biggest fish .95 pounds. This was good for eighth. The winning stringer was 20 # and the biggest fish was 1.3 pounds. I use crappie rigs which I tie myself to eliminate the hardware that might spook some fish, with #2 red octopus hooks by eagle claw. I also used a firetiger jighead tipped with a minnow.

[driverdan26]

Hey guys, I fished the same tourney and we had a limit by 730am. I fish with perch killers. Also I think youll find if you use larger minnows i.e. goldies your gonna find alot more jumbos. We weighed in 16 lbs almost all being atleast 12 inches or better.

[kjk]

Beware, this "Poor Boy" guy on another Illinois Fishing web site is telling half of Chicago that the perch are biting in Michigan City/New Buffalo. The Internet screwed up Hammond & Pastrick and now the plague will be moving east. kjk