Perch Fishing ReportLake Winnie and Surrounding Areas

Lake Winnie fishing guide Jeff Johnson with a group ice fishing outing targeting perch

Perch fishing around the Grand Rapids and Deer River areas has been improving over the past couple weeks. The fish are starting to feel the oncoming spawn. We are also experiencing more daylight which helps reduce the midwinter doldrums. Both perch and perch fisherman were out in full force this weekend. Being mobile was key to having success. Ice conditions on Lake Winnie and other local lakes remain great. Anglers are able to access most areas without the need for tracked machines or plowed roads. Keep in mind there are some slushy areas mixed in. Watching for discoloration in the snow can help keep you from running into these areas. 

I’ve said it before, but this time of the year for me, I have the most success fishing shallow flats when targeting perch. The bigger the better. I like 6-8 ft flats, large in size, and deep water nearby. Your deep water could be a sharp break line leading into a deeper basin, or a deepwater hole. Start on top of the flat and be mobile. You will know pretty quickly if there are perch nearby. The first few biters are usually the most active, and often the biggest fish of the day. You can move around and continue finding active biters throughout the day. Cycling back into some of your holes later on, can also be effective, and it will reduce arm fatigue from continued drilling. Drilling too much can also have a negative impact on your bite, so keep that in mind as well. It is important to check those deeper areas as well. Perch will often congregate in these deeper areas at different points during the day. It can lead into the nursery effect, however. Smaller fish that use this deeper water as a sanctuary will often be more in abundance. Fishing through them becomes the challenge.

We do have 1 open slot on March 5th to fill this winter for a guided ice fishing trip on Lake Winnie or surrounding areas. If you are interested you can reach out to us at 218-259-8893.