Near Record Yellow Perch

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Deep Creek Lake

Here's a recent catch (March 13, 2010) I made while icefishing on Deep Creek Lake (where we surpassed the all-time record for snowfall this year). This yellow perch went 15.5" in total length, although I've contacts I trust (who fish the lake relentlessly) who've taken them up to 17" while fishing large minnow imitations while targeting walleye and smallmouth. I've been told that at one time this might have been the state record except for one 3/4" longer caught a couple of years ago. A former record from DCL went 15", and could hardly have had any greater girth than this specimen The fishing tackle you see is a homemade example of a 'tip down', which has proven especially effective whenever the fish are tentative about holding on to a bait (a common phenomenon from mid-ice on). It acts like a balance beam or see-saw, which permits light biters to move off without feeling any vibration or resistance associated with the more conventional 'tip ups.' On the base are two openings; one for ballast water/extra bait storage for strong winds, the other receives an insulated removable hole cover so that the auger cavity does not freeze over in extreme low temperature conditions. They can be taken down of course, but I have not yet come to a fully satisfactory solution for storage issues and so continue to make modifications.

Most people shudder at the very notion of icefishing, but with the right clothing and development of modern portable shelters and heaters, it need not involve any discomfort at all, and during early ice the morning bite is consistently keeping you hopping (no chance to get cold). Ice fishing does not necessarily require the same skill or experience levels of open water fishing. Everyone ought to try it at least once in their lives! I offer to take winter guests on a complimentary basis, and some few now come back every year expressly for the unique wintry experience.

Bait used: fathead minnow