It's a hot perch bite in Polson Bay
To most people, early April means tax time. But to savvy anglers in the Flathead Valley, it means something much more important: perch at East Bay on Flathead Lake.
Every year, as the shallow waters of Polson Bay begin to warm, hundreds of thousands of yellow perch show up to spawn in the weedy areas of East Bay.
East Bay is directly north from Ducharme Fishing access, about 3 miles east of Polson on Montana 35. Forget about launching here. Most boats are launched at the docks at the Kwataknuk Resort. At this time of year, it is nothing more than a hard surface to back your trailer in and the truck driver will most likely get his or her feet wet boarding the boat. Bring your waders.
You’ll know you’re in the right spot since the fleet will be there. These fish generally tend to be in 3 to 6 feet of water in or near any weeds you can find. And there are plenty of fish to go around. Many times, just your anchor line is enough to keep a school right around your boat, and a little anchor movement provides the commotion perch seem to love.
Water temperature is pretty critical, with 46 to 52 degrees optimal. A cloudy, cool morning with clearing skies and afternoon sun warming the water is a perfect scenario. But a couple of warm afternoons can mean a good morning bite as well, once it gets a little farther into the month. Watch the weather and be prepared to go when conditions dictate.
Tackle is pretty simple: A go-to rig is a drop-shot setup with a fly or small hook baited with maggots or a piece of nightcrawler about 4 to 12 inches above. Better yet, a 1/16th-1/4th ounce baited jig below with the same fly/hook setup above it gives you twice the chance to hook up.
A slip bobber rig can be dynamite, with any jig you used ice fishing tipped with a chunk of bait.
Lastly, casting a small spoon or spinner can be an awesome way to feel the strike of a hungry perch. Dark colors on cloudy days and bright colors on sunny days is a good plan, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Brass-colored lures are always a good do-it-all choice.
A 5- to 6-foot ultralight spinning outfit spooled up with 4- to 6-pound mono is great, but if several anglers will be fishing, a shorter 4-foot outfit can make a difference in landing your fish without crossing lines or interfering with the others, especially if the fish are right under your boat.
A landing net is helpful but not necessary. It is real easy to lose count of how many fish you are tossing in the cooler, and though there is no state limit here, it pays to practice selective harvest: Keep the medium-size males for eating and let those bigger females go to do what they are there to do. That way, we all will have decades more of this great fishery.
The spring perch bite on the south end of the lake is one fantastic fishery. It is a short, intense season, but one that will please anglers young and old. It is a great fishery for the kids as they can catch fish for hours on end, and perch are one of the best-tasting fish there is.
You do need a south Flathead Tribal tag for this fishery, and as always, watch the weather, be safe, and I will see you on the water.
Mike Howe runs Howe’s Fishing/A Able Charters. For more information check out the website, www.howesfishing.com, or call 257-5214.