In Search Of Monster Yellow Perch..

[BayWolf]

Well, happy to report that after four months of pure hell, my broken leg finally felt good enough to try and get out on the water. So Shinna and I took Lil' Nibble out on American Lake and went yellow perch fishing.  It was divine to finally be back out and even though the perch were sporadic, we did find enough for a nice meal.

Shinna posed a question that I'm hoping some of you here might be able to answer.  She wants to know where to find LARGE yellow perch?
The perch we catch locally are in the 10 inch range, and with enough, you can get enough small fillet nuggets for a nice fish fry, but is there any place in Washington that has large perch?  Not sure, but I think Yellow Perch can get into the one pound range.

Thanks for any input and details.

Hopefully, if things keep improving, we will see you on the water.

[martin3]

Wow,    that is some nice hardware you are now sporting!

Good job getting back out there.

[AJFishin]

Way to get back out there and get a bucket of nice fish! Also it's funny how one screw looks to have missed it's mark in that one picture and just left there.

[BayWolf]

Wow,    that is some nice hardware you are now sporting!

Good job getting back out there.

Thanks.  It's been a tough journey for sure.

Way to get back out there and get a bucket of nice fish! Also it's funny how one screw looks to have missed it's mark in that one picture and just left there.

I thought the same thing, but the doc said she had to screw the two pieces back together.

[salmonchaser]

I have only been perch fishing once here in WA but it sure was none stop action. We were on Lake Washington just outside of Jaunita Bay. I think we were only in about 30' of water. Unfortunately none of them were the size your after. More the "normal" size here. I have heard guys doing well at Offut and Potholes 

Good to see you are back out on the water!

[DARice]

Nice hardware! I'm at 3 for 4 in setting off airport metal detectors with my new artificial shoulder...

The mention of Potholes reminds me that, while I didn't do much fishing, I caught some larger than average perch and a couple of nice trout at Coffeepot Lake along with 1 pheasant, 3 hungarian partridge and 4 quail. Turned into an amazing cast and blast because I had a 4wt rolling around in back! https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/lowland-lakes/coffeepot-lake. That was more than 10 years ago. Not an Arima destination--I'm not aware of a developed ramp--more of a canoe/kayak/or draggable small skiff. But, a well-timed winter trip to E. WA would buy you some sunshine. Of course, there are some lakes on that side of the state with trophy kokanee fisheries, and the fish should be in great shape.

But I digress...

Dave

[BayWolf]

Nice hardware! I'm at 3 for 4 in setting off airport metal detectors with my new artificial shoulder...

The mention of Potholes reminds me that, while I didn't do much fishing, I caught some larger than average perch and a couple of nice trout at Coffeepot Lake along with 1 pheasant, 3 hungarian partridge and 4 quail. Turned into an amazing cast and blast because I had a 4wt rolling around in back! https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/lowland-lakes/coffeepot-lake. That was more than 10 years ago. Not an Arima destination--I'm not aware of a developed ramp--more of a canoe/kayak/or draggable small skiff. But, a well-timed winter trip to E. WA would buy you some sunshine. Of course, there are some lakes on that side of the state with trophy kokanee fisheries, and the fish should be in great shape.

But I digress...

Dave

Dave, did they give you a card to carry that explains the metal?

We've never fished any lakes on the East side.  Have often thought of a trip over the hill to check some out though.  One issue is my tow vehicle.  I have one of those constant velocity transmissions, so I'm not all that keen on towing my boat over the pass.
But now, I digress..

I've heard great things about East side fishing...maybe someday.

[Scottjohnson59]

I get 10+ inchers in lake washington usually in the fall when they are in 40-70 foot depth. I find a school of large ones and catch a 5 gallon bucket full usually two at a time on perch meat. I like American for the kokanees fishing.

[BayWolf]

I get 10+ inchers in lake washington usually in the fall when they are in 40-70 foot depth. I find a school of large ones and catch a 5 gallon bucket full usually two at a time on perch meat. I like American for the kokanees fishing.

Thanks Scott.  American has slowed somewhat for Kokanee the last couple of years.  We can still get some out of there, but the numbers seem to be down from a few years ago.  Someone says it's because more fertilizer run off from the lawns and that the storm water drainage system was change to allow more street water runoff to go into the lake. Dunno.

We still get some nice perch out of it, and in the 10 inch range.  I've seen a few larger perch, but they are the exception.  I'm sure the size of the fish is dependent on food availability, so the more competition for food, the smaller the fish.  I see more guys fishing for perch in American these days, so we will probably start seeing fewer fish but bigger fish.

[FishBio]

I've only been getting small perch in Lake Wa this year, too. Haven't found that school of big ones yet.  I did pick up this sweet smallmouth, though!  Fishing for perch with an inch of brown Gulp worm in 70' of water. That's a first for me.

[BayWolf]

I've only been getting small perch in Lake Wa this year, too. Haven't found that school of big ones yet.  I did pick up this sweet smallmouth, though!  Fishing for perch with an inch of brown Gulp worm in 70' of water. That's a first for me.

That's a nice smally.  Wonder where the big perch are?   

[Wiley]

I've only been getting small perch in Lake Wa this year, too. Haven't found that school of big ones yet.  I did pick up this sweet smallmouth, though!  Fishing for perch with an inch of brown Gulp worm in 70' of water. That's a first for me.

That's a nice smally.  Wonder where the big perch are?
[/quote

Maybe there in the small mouth !

[Playin Hooky]

Good to hear you are back on the water and catching.  My wife had similar plates and screws in her ankle.  After quite a few years they had to go in and remove them.  The doctor found that she had a screw loose.     Seriously, true story!  She told almost everyone she came in contact with before they removed them, that she had a screw loose.   

[BayWolf]

Good to hear you are back on the water and catching.  My wife had similar plates and screws in her ankle.  After quite a few years they had to go in and remove them.  The doctor found that she had a screw loose.     Seriously, true story!  She told almost everyone she came in contact with before they removed them, that she had a screw loose. 

Hahahahahaha!!  Now that made me feel a lot better.   Sorry to hear about her having to go back under the knife. And I hope she's doing much better now. 
But her keeping a sense of humor about it is priceless. 
Thanks.