I started ice fishing late last year and only got out a couple times. I got a new ice fishing tent for Christmas and I am planning on going a lot more this year. Last year I went up to pineview to try and get into some perch but got skunked. I am going to go out tomorrow after some perch but I am not sure where to go. My wife and kids want to come with me so size of the fish isn’t as important as fast action so they don’t get bored. Where would you go for some good perch action tomorrow? Mantua? Pineview? Newton? Hyrum? I would like to go somewhere within about an hour and a half of salt lake. Thanks for any help.
Trevor
we went to manta on saturday and got skunked it was slow, but i have very little experience, off buy the south dike were lots of people we may have went to the wrong area…
I can’t help with where to go. Ice is still thin in most reservoirs so be very careful.
As far as catching perch goes, here is a tip that should help you.
Be very sure that you are fishing on the bottom of the reservoir. You need to have your jig touch the bottom and then bring it back up 6" to 1’ above the floor.
Bounce the jig on the floor to stir up the mud a little. This will bring fish to your jig.
Use small jigs and tip them with small offerings like wax worms or perch eyes.
Use a strike indicator and watch for very slight movement. That is all you will get most of the time.
Good luck and report back.
How deep of water do you find perch in?
It depends on where you are fishing at. Places like Pineview and Rockport will hold perch in water that is 50’ deep and deeper.
If you fish at Pineview, the Narrows by the dam is the deepest water. There, you may find the perch in water that is over 30’ to 50’ deep. Up at the East end by Cemetery Point, the water isn’t as deep. The perch will be there but like I said, they will be hugging the bottom.
Try to find the deepest water that you can. It may only be 20’ or so deep there.
At Rockport, I find that the perch are in deeper water. Try 30’ or deeper to start and move out to deeper water if you don’t find them in closer.
I have caught perch in water thaty was over 60’ deep at Rockport.
The trout on the other hand like to cruse around in water that is about 15’ to 25’ deep most of the time.
Even in deep water, most of the trout that I catch are suspended in less that 25’ of water.
Now if you fish at Mantua, things will be different. The deepest water there is only about 20’ deep.
The perch will still be on the bottom so look for drop offs or open water that is next to weed beds. It’s hard to find some times. Move around to find the best places. You may only move 10’ and hit gold.
I’ve often found the perch will school up where the slope of the lake levels out to a flat bottom. Hugging that transition. But you’ve got some great advice here.
Get down on it! I often use a setup with a castmaster, hook removed, then a jig maybe 6 inches below. For me - I’ll bottom bounce, then turn up maybe three cranks. That’ll put the flasher at about 6"-1’, but the jig will be just barely off bottom.
spring bobbers - can’t say enough about 'em. great tool to detect the light bit. You see a wiggle, lift. Perch are little jerks. You can use slip bobbers too. Hooksets are free.
Check you bait, not getting a bite? Might have lost the de-bait!
As for where - all the lakes you mentioned are good potential. Having a fish finder can be a great help.
Cameras are fun, a finder is a tool.
Here’s one of my favorite perch vids. Check the 2min mark!
Welcome to the site, and let us know how you do.
