In this video, Jason Mitchell breaks down the keys to targeting basin perch.
Where to Find Perch
With so many great perch fishing opportunities, it’s no surprise that perch fishing is a popular activity in the Dakotas. What makes these natural lakes (called dish bowel lakes or prairie pothole lakes) unique is that they drop down on the shoreline and then are perfectly flat. Most of the time you’ll find perch running out in these flat areas (basins). What often happens is that the predator fish ambush these perch when they come out onto the structure, therefore pushing these perch out to the basins.
These basins might be 10, 15, or even 30 feet deep and also have a soft bottom, where all the bug life is. They eat bugs, freshwater shrimp, and a lot of different invertebrates. Keep in mind, when you get out in these basins, you are out over deeper water and fishing for a fish that has a small mouth and that is used to eating these invertebrates and bugs.
The Benefit of Braided Line
When fishing over these deep basins there is a big advantage to using braided line. There are a lot of misconceptions about braid, such as water absorption, but even if it’s really really cold, you can take a mitten and just shred off the ice.
Braided line also has better sensitivity. A lot of times these fish barely touch the bait. Braided line makes it easier to distinguish this bite, especially when fishing in water that is 20 feet or deeper.
Finally, braided line also allows you to have a better hookset over deeper water in comparison to 3 or 4-lb monofilament.
Presentation
A small spoon such as a Clam Speed Spoon is a popular choice for a presentation. This is a straight up-and-down lead spoon, with a chain below it. That dropper chain is crucial, as it gives a small presentation, and works well paired with bait such as a perch eye. This presentation will drop straight down like a dart. The key is to have a really fast bait delivery system.
Pair this presentation with an 8 lb braid, a small swivel, and a 6 lb fluorocarbon leader. In dark water don’t be afraid to use straight braid.
As far as the rod itself, use a sanded glass tip rod, such as the Jason Mitchell Meat Stick. This is beneficial especially when targeting perch over deeper water because it has a stiff backbone and a soft tip, allowing for plenty of leverage and sensitivity.
When targeting perch, a lot of it’s about getting up and down fast. The key is to have a rod that will windle these fish up and a setup that gets the presentation right back down. A fast delivery system is one that’s going to catch a lot more fish over these deeper basins.
