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Lake Washington Perch Tips
by Larry, November 25, 2004
I have been fishing the north end of the lake off and on since about 1955 or there about and in that time I have learned a few things about perch. I am happy to share them here.
First is that there are some very big schools of perch to be found in the lake. But if you are after the bigger perch you will not fish in the schools. Perch school for protection, as they are food for lots of other fish that live in Lake Washington (and elsewhere) and need the safety that the numbers provide. As they grow they become less of a target. Bigger perch will actually become predators. They do not hang around the bigger schools but go out searching for food fit for a bigger fish. They will travel alone or in small groups of just a few fish. You will not catch 40 or 50 perch in a day if you target the bigger ones. A good day will be around a dozen and a fair day will be even less. You have to give up quantity to get the quality fish. Every big perch I have ever caught had smaller fish in their stomachs. Some of those were up to 4-inches long.
I fish with a 2-inch Buzz Bomb and add small strips of perch meat to the hook. The bigger fish will not give you that Tap-Tap-Tap that the smaller ones do but will often times just suck in the whole bait and then just sit there. You will only know they are there when you lift the line and it is heavier. If you don’t feel them they will chew the meat till it comes off the hook (that is why I leave the skin on) and then spit out the empty hook and you are left wondering why nothing is happening until you check and see the empty hook.
The Buzz Bomb does several things. It gets me down quick and holds the bottom better. It also provides an attraction factor and makes the bigger perch think they will get a bigger meal. Every predator is looking for the most dinner for the least amount of energy. I hope these tips help others find and enjoy this quality fishery we have right here in out own back yard.
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