Understanding Perch Diets

Competition is another factor. Perch might travel in orderly schools, but they turn into bullies when the scent of baitfish is in the water, or when they see a fellow school member eat something with enthusiasm. “Big lures seem to create greater competition within the school,” says Bro. “Rile up one fish and you’ll rile up the herd. And bigger baits seem to trigger that response.”

You never can guess at the size of the school, either. Might be a full-bodied pod of a couple dozen fish, or a respectable school with a hundred or more members. Point being, it’s imperative to get up and down with urgency. Hook and land a fish, and get the bait back down like you’re saving lives. Sizes can mix, so don’t reposition at the first dink, either. Weed through a couple and move if conditions don’t improve.

Attraction is another reason to camp through a few smaller fish. “A big flashy bait can lure in other pods of active fish, the roamers,” he says. This is particularly true if fish constantly appear and disappear, as shown on the Vexilar. That’s a sure sign of commerce.

Swimbaits are prime candidates for the walleye-influenced enlargement. The Salmo Chubby Darter is one example, particularly their new #3 micro-sized bait. So is the tried-and-true Rapala Jigging Rap, as well as the newer Jigging Shad Rap. Bro opens with a conventional perch-patterned W3 Jigging Rap. Perch are cannibals, so feel free to feed them their own. An upsize to a W5 or downsize to a W2 happens as fish tempers dictate.

From the spoon side, Brosdahl tenders a bold-looking Lindy Legendary Fishing Flyer Spoon, 1/4 ounce or greater. “Perch are very visual. Their cousin the walleye can operate on feel, smell, and taste. Perch need to see what they eat first, so I pay close attention to detail, everything from as light a line as I can get away with to baitfish patterns and crisp colors on the lure.”

Recognition Downsize

Conditions can change with a flip of nature’s switch. The wrong front or onset of winter’s doldrums renders a spoon irrelevant. Brosdahl quickly cuts free the walleye riggings and dispatches the small stuff. Out come the teardrops, Genz worms, and myriad other classic panfish morsels—there’s no science here.

The upsizing and downsizing drum has been beat before. Upgrade when it’s hot and downgrade when it’s not. The same core formula applies to everything that swims and tastes good in breadcrumbs.

So, what about the bug-eaters? Can’t a perch live on miniscule bloodworms and still cover the bottom of a bucket? Absolutely, he says.

“Some perch live their entire lives grubbing on bloodworms, freshwater shrimp, and other aquatic bottom-dwelling invertebrates. And as sure as there’s a good supply of food, there’ll be perch, including jumbo perch.”