'Tis the season for white perch

[Mark]

Mark,

I went through what you are going through a couple of years ago. My local flyshop owner, whom I had not seen for a while due to issues with my Mom, said "Where you been...I haven't seen you for a while." I said "I've been dealing with some things." I will never forget his reply - he said "Yeah...I hear ya...Life can sometimes get in the way of a good time."

And to your point about tying flies for people...I once got into a long drawn out debate on a fly fishing board about tails on mayflies. Back and forth about two vs. three tails, and if they are too long or too short, and how the silhouette is all the trout care about...etc. Then one guy ended it by saying this: "The trout don't seem to mind the giant metal spike protruding from the back of the fly."

That fellow made a sensible observation. I haven't done much stream fishing for trout so I've never understood the need to offer anatomically correct bugs. I have seen browns rise, take a good look at a fly and reject it. But at other times they would savagely attack my poorly tied elk hair caddis offerings.

I believe our tidal fish have very little time to analyze our offerings. The may hear the lure first through their lateral lines and then catch a fleeting glimpse of it as it swims near them. I think they then react on instinct, not a critical visual assessment what's making the noise that attracted them in the first place.

[belairfishing]

Drew,

I feel your pain.

I'm sandwiched between generations as a caregiver. If the weather doesn't keep me onshore, family obligations may. That's why I enjoy every outing so much, regardless of how many fish I catch or how big they are.

I used Rooster Tails years ago along with Mepps spinners. As I recall, some came with no hair tied to the hook and of course they worked fine. Now with my home tied lures and flies I've noticed they'll often still catch fish once they are stripped bare of their dressing. I'll restore the hair on some for my benefit. It may not enhance their effectiveness. But I like their appearance with the bucktail. As Stu (Bignose) has indicated on this forum, we tie to catch people as much as fish.

Mark,

I went through what you are going through a couple of years ago. My local flyshop owner, whom I had not seen for a while due to issues with my Mom, said "Where you been...I haven't seen you for a while." I said "I've been dealing with some things." I will never forget his reply - he said "Yeah...I hear ya...Life can sometimes get in the way of a good time."

And to your point about tying flies for people...I once got into a long drawn out debate on a fly fishing board about tails on mayflies. Back and forth about two vs. three tails, and if they are too long or too short, and how the silhouette is all the trout care about...etc. Then one guy ended it by saying this: "The trout don't seem to mind the giant metal spike protruding from the back of the fly."

[Mark]

Drew,

I feel your pain.

I'm sandwiched between generations as a caregiver. If the weather doesn't keep me onshore, family obligations may. That's why I enjoy every outing so much, regardless of how many fish I catch or how big they are.

I used Rooster Tails years ago along with Mepps spinners. As I recall, some came with no hair tied to the hook and of course they worked fine. Now with my home tied lures and flies I've noticed they'll often still catch fish once they are stripped bare of their dressing. I'll restore the hair on some for my benefit. It may not enhance their effectiveness. But I like their appearance with the bucktail. As Stu (Bignose) has indicated on this forum, we tie to catch people as much as fish.

[bunnielab]

I fish for perch almost exclusively with 1/8oz inline spinners converted to single hooks. I usually use RoosterTails as the hair is not attached to the hook so I don't have to re-tie it. I used to use small spinnerbaits but the hooks on most saltwater ones are too thick for my tastes and I am too lazy to really sharpen them up. I also use an assortment of small crankbaits, also converted to single hooks, but they rarely out preform or even match the inline spinners.

I have also been using a casting combo for them the last season, a ExtraLight/Mod St Croix rod and a Daiwa Pixy reel loaded with 4lb mono. It is fussy and wind makes a fool of me all the time, but it's fun to mess with and I can the same combo and lures in the winter for stocked trout.

I am dying to get after them more this year, but for the last month or so I have not had a day off when the weather forecast was reasonable for kayaking. Look at the forecast for the rest of this week, I will let you guess what days I have off and which I am working
Capture.JPG

[Mark]

Those modified Mepps spinners do look nice.

What I find interesting is how the perch find the hooks on both the in-line spinners and the jig spinners, especially the jig spinners where the hook is offset from the spinner. With the in-line spinner the hook is closer to the main attractant, the spinner. Regardless, both lures styles work very well. That little spinning blade fools an awful lot of fish.

[baitball]

Thanks Manny,

Those are No. 6 hooks.

I may try that mod. I have a few Mepps spinners sitting around that can benefit from some repurposing.


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[azmdted]

Thanks Manny,

Those are No. 6 hooks.

[baitball]

The marketing department turned that down.

Clearly a missed opportunity on their part...


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[baitball]

Here's some of
f my modified MEPPS

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Those look great! What size hook is that?


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[Mark]

That was one option. The other was "Big Bange lures"

The marketing department turned that down.

[J.A. Veil]

Michael,

I believe John Veil suggested that I call them "On-the-Mark" lures.

I like that.

That was one option. The other was "Big Bange lures"

[Mark]

@ mark - since bignose spinner is already trademarked, are you thinking 'smallnose spinner' ?

@ azmdted - those modifies MEPPS look awesome.

Michael,

I believe John Veil suggested that I call them "On-the-Mark" lures.

I like that.

[MetroMan]

Mepps Comet Minnow is my go-to for casting and trolling...

61QNVh0gcmL._SX425_.jpg

For jigging...bunker spoon with a teaser 12" above.

[mchottie]

@ mark - since bignose spinner is already trademarked, are you thinking 'smallnose spinner' ?

@ azmdted - those modifies MEPPS look awesome.

[Shady]

My go to for perch for a while has been a road runner jighead tipped with gulp minnows. I'm not sure if its a function of where i usually fish for them or the lure, but usually most that i catch are of keeper size ( 9"+).

Somewhat off topic, but has anyone had eyes on the lower severn today? I might head out this afternoon...