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Raptor, J. Rentch and I launched from Jonas between 0700 and 0730 this morning. The tide was high. Our goals were perch and stripers. In roughly 4 hours I believe we caught one small striper between us thanks to Raptor. We trolled the known spots that have brought success to us in the past -- DNR Oyster Bars, Points and Drop Offs in the main river. The stripers remain inexplicably scarce. I trolled 1/2 oz. jigs with a chartreuse 3 inch Fat Sam trailer. No bumps from a fish at all.
Fortunately, the perch in the tributaries (not the river at large) gave us some action and a few pickerels joined the fray.
The perch are not only getting more active, they are getting larger.
I boated 19 and many were like this in size:
A.jpg
I also got two pickerel, one about 12 inches that I did not measure and the other at 22 inches that I did measure. However the large one took the lure deep and I had the fish out of the water a long time removing the hook. I did not want to stress it any more so I put it back without a photo. It was stunned but swam away slowly to fight another day I hope.
I got all my fish today on these three 1/8 oz. spinners:
B.jpg
Color did not seem to matter to the perch. I caught about an equal number on each in 3 different tributaries. But both pickerels hit the middle spinner in the photo. If you look closely you will see it no longer has a hook. The large pickerel bent the spinner arm and the hook. I tried to repair it with pliers. The spinner arm straitened nicely but the hook snapped in two. No more fish for that lure!
Given the overcast skies today, shade was a not required to find perch. I could determine no set pattern for them. Some were tight to cover and others were in open water of 5 to 6 feet in depth. But one place they were not was around the docks and pilings in the Severn. I hit most of the piers on the way back to the launch without a strike.
Fortunately, the perch in the tributaries (not the river at large) gave us some action and a few pickerels joined the fray.
The perch are not only getting more active, they are getting larger.
I boated 19 and many were like this in size:
A.jpg
I also got two pickerel, one about 12 inches that I did not measure and the other at 22 inches that I did measure. However the large one took the lure deep and I had the fish out of the water a long time removing the hook. I did not want to stress it any more so I put it back without a photo. It was stunned but swam away slowly to fight another day I hope.
I got all my fish today on these three 1/8 oz. spinners:
B.jpg
Color did not seem to matter to the perch. I caught about an equal number on each in 3 different tributaries. But both pickerels hit the middle spinner in the photo. If you look closely you will see it no longer has a hook. The large pickerel bent the spinner arm and the hook. I tried to repair it with pliers. The spinner arm straitened nicely but the hook snapped in two. No more fish for that lure!
Given the overcast skies today, shade was a not required to find perch. I could determine no set pattern for them. Some were tight to cover and others were in open water of 5 to 6 feet in depth. But one place they were not was around the docks and pilings in the Severn. I hit most of the piers on the way back to the launch without a strike.
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