Be the loner, Perch

I am always being asked where the perch are. What depth/area etc.

I haven’t been out for awhile but got out for a quick trip.

As per usual my buddy and I could see the flotilla of boats. At times it pays to be in a pack and I don’t shame anyone for being where the fish are. Just start on the perimeter way away from the pack and if you approach, please do it on your trolling motor.
This particular day we watched a big pack of boats to our east and no one was catching. We stay out on the perimeter 200 or so yards away for 30 mins or so searching 20 fow and the area was barren. To our west another big pack of boats was posted up and same story. We went on a searching mission to find where the school of big perch had gone as we knew they had recently been in the area.

We watched as all the boats kept grinding the same spots over and over. We watch boats leave one flotilla to join the other and go back and forth all day. The “grass is greener on the other side of the fence”, was in full effect that day.

Meanwhile we quietly stayed way away from both packs about mid way between them. No one came close to us and we just stayed quiet. Boaters were running and gunning left right and Center joining packs of boats yet we just drifted with the wind quietly solo doing our own thing until we landed on the perch.

For those learning just remember sometimes it really pays to do your own thing and not follow the crowd. We can all find fish when a pack of boats are on them but when the pack isn’t catching just start moving slowly and quietly. No guarantees you will land on them but it’s better than grinding a dead area with a ton of other boats.

Well done and bang on as always.

Arnie

I hope you got more then 2, but I couldn't agree more about pack fishing. I tend to stop about a mile short when I'm looking for fish especially walleye. I will troll towards the pack, 9 times out of 10 I will never get close to the pack and find a school to get my limit. Last year I found a school with no one around me and caught 4 really quick, it was a really nice day and calm waters so decide to go look to see what the pack was doing so packed up went to just outside the pack and trolled in and through it. i never got a bit and only saw one fish caught so packed up and went the 3 miles back to where I caught the 4 and quickly caught the last 2. So yes you might find them in the pack but I find it more peaceful and productive to be outside of the pack.

Fantastic report. Those ladies are ready to burst!

On my small whitefish lake I often compete with two other boats, as soon as I land a whitefish both boats come park within 50ft of me… I’ve taken to buggering off when they do this as I know I can catch whitefish almost anywhere n that lake.

Always prefer fishing away from the pack.

Yes we got more than 2 lol.
Ended with 42 between 3 of us.
Just didn’t take many pics.

Some very nice fish caught and great report! Thank you, Disco

All excellent points about fishing outside of the crowd and finding your own spots.

100% agree! I also avoid the crowds

Fishing is just like hockey.....Be where the puck is not, and the puck will find you. Fish where the pack is not, and the fish will find you.

Great job Disco! It must feel really nice to have your effort rewarded.

I could not agree with you more........and I certainly apply this method to almost all of my methods

A certain amount of intel is always usefull, but finding your own fish is so worth it and as shown it for sure pays off most of the time

I employ this tactic a lot for salmon and walleye trolling perch also

Good job disco , always more rewarding finding your own fish , and more peaceful too gettin away from the flotilla.