Targeting Late Season Perch, Areas To Find More of a Mix

[swantonp1]

Not looking to get into a debate about who keeps what as I believe that is up to the angler.

I personally am looking for advice on what areas tend to hold more male perch later in the ice season. At least a mixed bag. Our group has been coming for years and fishes out of or near Port Bolster. The more I pay attention the more I notice that we are catching mainly staging females. Very few males in the mix especially the last couple times I have fished.

Does anyone have general info on areas that may produce more of a mix or mainly males. I understand its fishing and it can be a day to day battle. Sustaining the fishery is important to me and Simcoe is my favorite spot to ice fish. Exploring away from groups and looking at depth charts is as fun for me as catching fish so I'm not interested in anyone's hot spot. Just very general advice.

Hopefully anyone reading this had or is having a great ice season. I am moving on to chrome and can't wait for those adventures.

Thanks in Advance

[swannie]

In my experience, no matter where I am ice fishing and early ice out is always 90% females... but great question maybe some other members have different experiences

[Whynot]

ya, good question.

most times we clean fish a small percentage are males. very small.

If I recall correctly we got into a bunch of them one spring in open water, otherwise it's almost always females feeding.

Are they staged elsewhere? are they the smaller fish we see on camera that just don't want to bite? would love to know if anyone has more info.

[Whynot]

Doesn't answer the question directly, but very interesting info in this doc.

Perch Overview

Key points to your question:
- Perch of similar size school together.
- Males arrive at spawning site before females.
- Males mature faster, 2-3 yrs, and are therefore smaller on average as mature fish.

Many people argue not to keep "large spawner" females. but according to this and the articles I read:
- Females mature 3-4 years
- Average life expectancy is 7yrs, upper range limit is 11yrs.
- Average size reached at 7yrs is 11 inches (tbd feedstock, water body - arguably higher in the great lakes given the higher average size in large bodies).

So those 13-14" hogs are likely near end of life, they may only have a few spawns remaining before natural death. Conversely a healthy 8-11inch fish may have several spawning seasons remaining. Is the net impact any different keeping one of the other size? I dunno, but it's interesting food for thought.

[swantonp1]

Interesting and definitely food for thought. I always assumed majority of the Males came in after Females.

Thank you for doing some of the research I should have.

Ill look around some more but based on your findings it may not be as worthwhile as I thought to search for male fish.

Appreciate the help!

[simcoeslayer77]

If we only knew... then it wouldn't be fishing, it would just be catching! Lol... all jokes aside great topic but as all species will move around throughout different seasons, weather patterns, moon phases etc. It won't be long before they return to traditional spawning grounds. I agree with the theory of the large or jumbo females however there is some relevance as to the DNA of "hawgs"???

[Disco]

I caught several 12-13” perch this year that had massive bellies that were males. I don’t see the big males often at all. With a fat male and a fat female side by side they look the same.

Only time I have ever seen a bunch of big males together is long after the spawn is done. I catch them in two spots for a couple of weeks each year in open water.