West Side Cooks, best day pertain ever

[pro-vel]

Went out Friday morning on the west side of Cooks and had the best day ever for Perch. We spudded our way out over 4" of ice but there was still a slush patch to get over and were in 14 fow. We started catching perch right away and they were all over 10". We managed a couple of chubby fish over 13" and then they all seemed to disappear for five minutes. That's when a +24" pike came cruising by ever so slowly to investigate our baits but never took a swipe. We caught another 13" about two minutes later and then it slowed down for a bit again and we were only catching 10". We made a move about 50 paces further out just before a visible crack line. It was only 3" of ice and while we were cutting the hole, the ice cracked under our feet with the sound of a thunder clap. Hold your breath.......wait for something to happen then breath again. We were were still standing, thank God. We were over 10' of water so decided to cautiously go past the crack and counted off another 50 paces. This time we were in 20' and never had to move again. We caught all the fish on plastics. Tube jigs 1 1/2", 3" swim baits, spoons tipped with tube jig.
The average size was 11" and they were all spitting up minnows from 1" - 3". The ciscoes joined the fun too a couple of times but they were not much bigger than the perch (15"). We did catch a few 14" tanks which would swim across the holes and tangle up the lines or go around the camera. We were shaking off the 10" perch to try and get the bigger ones a chance to bite. Never thought I would be ever doing that. This was my first trip ever in December for Perch on Cooks and never had experienced fish that big on the average before. What a blast. We stayed until 2pm and really hated to leave because they were biting so easily.
If you get a chance to go out I hope you have the same experience we did.....the best ever!

[shagdrrotten6969]

Well done, great report !! Hope the fish gods are with me when I finally get out.

[Dee004]

Great report thanks for that. A good read. When the pike are lurking around the perch tend to change postal codes lol.

[avgefisherman]

Awesome I'm a little jealous... Again great job...

[finek]

What a nice way to finish a year and to start a new ice fishing season. Congtrats.

[Flo]

GOOD JOB NICE REPORT

[blender81]

Sounds like a dream day congrats dude!

[BlackCrowe13]

Nice to see the season starting off strong. Nice report!