perch fishing help.

hey guys,
 
i have been reading all of these posts on the great perch fishin and figured i would come up this weekend and give it a try.  i have done it before, but not on erie, so i have a couple quick questions. 
i dont want any spots, just basically technique or baits i guess. 
i hear that they are deep?  50 feet?  do you look for structure or just pick a spot and try it?  and what type of rig is best for this deep of water?  a drop shot type rig with a minow on it?  sorry if i seem lost, just have never done the perch thing before, so any help or tips anyone wants to give would be great.  
thanks guys, and great site.  if you dont want to post on here you could email or pm me. 
 
 

Slick is 100% Correct  I just want to add the lake can be a brutal thing at times just make sure you keep an eye on the weather at all times....

Latest report is 42-50 fow off of walnut or the point. I tie my own rigs made with 20lb fluorocarbon. Tie a surgeon's loop on one end, a standoff loop in the middle, and a 1 1/2 oz inline sinker on the bottom. Place a snelled size 4 Tru-turn blood red baitholder hook on the dropper loop and on the bottom eyelet of the in-line sinker, add an emerald, and you are all set. I absolutley recommend using a super line (I prefer 15 lb Power pro) but any no stretch line works well. Using mono that deep absorbs a lot of the sensitivity of the bite. Use your fish finder and look for a school. Don't anchor on barren ground. If you don't see fish, they aren't there. If you see fish, but don't start catching any within 10-15 minutes, consider looking for new real estate. If you get on them, and they shut off, wait it out for a while. They may come back around. Sometimes it helps during a slow bite to cast out a few yards from the boat, allow the line to sink out there, and drag it slowly across the bottom toward the boat. Sometimes leaving the line slack on the bottom and lifting it very slowly to feel for increased weight or the bite works too. Most of the time, a tight line held 6-12" off of the bottom does the trick. Bounce the sinker gently off of the bottom. Rarely, the perch will suspend 3-10' off bottom. If your finder shows them there, don't hesitate to try raising up for the suspended fish. Good luck!

Make shure that you have emerald shiners and not golden shiners.Emeralds are like candy to the perch, goldens are like liver.

wow,
 
thanks so much guys.   this board is awesome.  i never expected that much help.  i think i will be out there saturday morning in a older blue/sliver ranger bass boat if you see me.   thanks again, will be looking forward to giving it a whirl.

get some 6lb fireline on your reel, buy acouple spreaders, sinkers, packages of hooks and minnows. Go out NW of walnut 40-50ft, throw the anchor out, turn radio on, throw a line in the drink and have fun. Mite be on the bottom, mite be a couple cranks up... and you dont need to be by the perch pack to getm

ranger , the rigs Pork showed you, in the link, work. But I personally think they have too much slack hanging off the vertical line. You will miss or not see the subtle bites. and if you are not seeing the light bite they will inhale the hook. I tie my own rig , just like a crappie rig but with 2 inches or less hanging off the verticle line. The less slack the better.

Dont make things complicated, keep it simple and you will catch perch.

slick , that thing looks like aaaaaa? , I Dont Know what that thing looks like. double crawler harness with single blades and no hooks? yeah thats it.

I have not needed to try anything else than I already do. I cant keep 2 rods down at the same time. If ones in and a perch being taken off or hook rebaited and the others going I miss fish,or they swallow it cause I aint watchin the other pole.
I have to say No I dont like it but I only say that cause I havent needed to change my ways. Go with what works for you I always say.

I'm w/ you slick, I use the same type of spreader and crush 'em. Many, many double's and triples!! Def. the ticket in my book. If ain't catchin' fish w/ these things you don't know what the hell your doing. 

sounds great guys,  
does anybody know of a bait shop that is open at around 7:00 a.m?  i am thinking of launching at chesnut street boat launch. 
 
thanks again

.SATURDAY...WEST WINDS 10 KNOTS OR LESS INCREASING TO 10 TO
15 KNOTS. MOSTLY SUNNY. A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 FEET OR LESS BUILDING TO 1 TO 3 FEET.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING WEST.
MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE
EVENING. WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FEET.
WINDS AND WAVES HIGHER IN AND NEAR THUNDERSTORMS.

 
Get out there early, it looks like it could deteriorate in the afternoon.
 
Slick, I know those rigs work but I always feel like I'm fishing with a coat hanger with them. I like the "crappie" rigs, it's all about what works for you.

Standard crappie rigs work well, I suggest fireline or another braid, can really feel the bite in the deep water. Also sometimes they just mouth it and you won't feel a hit, just a little added weight on your bounce with the wave action. If your not sure set the hook, the bite can be hard to pick up sometimes if they are not nailing it. Good Luck. I've heard the gulp minnows work well if you run out of live stuff.

I can't buy a perch with a gulp minnow.

I'm a spreader fan after a few days we couldn't buy a hit on crappie rigs... rods with the spreaders on them crushed the perch.  Ever since then we've mainly used the spreaders and had good luck with them.

It's been on and off. Today was SLOW. I was out and didn't do too hot. I saw the Edward John do more moving that fishing.