Yellow Perch In Bull Shoals?

[powerdive]

I haven't tasted any perch since last week (in Minnesota)!

Super-easy to fillet, never an ounce of fat, firm white flesh. Yep--perch are great!

[taxidermist]

Fishinmachine, lower end will be clearer than the upper and middle areas, maybe 12 to 15 feet above the thermocline although I have seen 30 and more below in the cold water. Take you a wet suit and a hood, even gloves if you are going to do a long night dive. Thermo cline is at 22 feet this past week, to a b it deeper as you know its waves under there. there were zero fish below the thermocline.

On the lower end I am thinking about doing the same thing you are under lights. just to see whats there. a Couple nice points come to mind on in the Jimmie Creek area called three caves, and around the point in the cove, they catch a few rainbow there in the spring and I have seen lost of small walleye in the coves, so a night off a point and a night in 20 feet of water in a cove my see some fish.

[fishinmachine]

Thank you, Taxidermist. Was wondering what to expect for viz with the high water....but the water may not be up much in another month.

FM

[taxidermist]

We have been dry on ran and the vis is pretty good right now, way better than normal I think. We are seeing lots of fish in the brush and just under the edge. do you spear fish?

[fishinmachine]

Taxidermist,

Have never spearfished, always thought it looked like fun, though. Avid rod/reel angler since childhood, but never have tried with a spear. My son is interested in the idea, too. How does one learn about the sport without being acquainted with someone who has experience? Any good books you know of? Classes? Or is it not all that complicated?

FM

[Mike Worley]

This spring before the water level came up on Bull Shoals lake we were surprised by how many yellow perch we were catching on the brush piles in the mid-lake area Music creek, Coon creek, Big creek were loaded with Yellow perch. We were sometimes catching a dozen or so off a brush pile before we could catch a crappie. Jigs, minnows, worms & spoons were all catching yellow perch. Some of these were 10"-12" fish that really filleted well. Yellow perch are now in every part of Bull Shoals. I think that the low white bass population we had for several years let the yellow perch get a good foot hold in the lake. BTW the white bass fishing this year has been great in the mid-lake area in the flooded brush nearly any day the wind blows. The walleye fishing is really hot right now also.

[Samkam1]

That is really cool -- It sounds like they are doing well in there. They really wouldnt need to be stocked...once they get a good foot hold. They are a proliferate species. Do they have a limit set on them in BS?

[thunderbutt]

i just looked in the arkansas fishing guidebook . there is nothing at all as far as size or limits for yellow perch. only thing is says is the arkansas state record yellow perch is 1.8 lbs nice size perch but they get alot larger in lake michigan. around hammond,in. 2-1/2 ,3-1/2 lbs thats whats called a jumbo size last time i fished for them bait of chose has been soft shell cray fish. just use small bits . like just the meat in a claw arm. but that was way back in late 50's except for the hammond, indiana . area bigger ones are in that area don't know why ill has or chicago has s

limits and indiana don't. but yummm tasty fish. you like walleye you'll love perch.

[fishinmachine]

Thanks for all your responses, folks. Just a couple of weeks from now we'll give the yellow perch (and walleyes, and bass, and crappies) a go and let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again and best fishing luck to all of you.

FM