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Caught two coho, but zero perch. Posting under Perch because that is what we went out for.
On the water 7-11 a.m. Scanned 15-55' from Lighthouse to blue water tower with graph virtually barren, made one drift from 55 into 20 at tower with no bites.
Went out to 70' and trolled back to Lighthouse with combination of small perch spoons and salmon plugs. Caught two healthy, coho at 5-6 lbs on a Scorpion-sized Stinger in Wonderbread pattern near bottom in the 60s, then one 12-pound sheepshead on surface plug during a couple passes in front of harbor. No perch bites but did mark several bunches in 60s.
Went back and fished minnows on top of the marks - nice 65-67' hole just west of the first sailboat marker (#4, about 3/4 mi. NE of harbor) - but couldn't get a perch bite, not even a dink.
Was optimistic prior to fishing due to thermocline moving shallower, per the weather buoy. Hopefully, perch (and some kings) will get set up in usual haunts this weekend.

Cold water up higher now so that makes sense. Thanks for the report sorry to hear about the perch.

I was thinking about heading out this afternoon to try and find some staging fish in close due to the cold water moving in. Sounds like there are a few but they are scarce still.

Wondering if the wind tomorrow is gonna screw up the temps again...

Seen a report that was good out of mid MICH-FYI

I had a buddy get out on the 29th with his kids. They did alot of searching but found fish off the dunes in 25-35 FOW. Alot of dinks but got 10 or so keepers raning from 9-13". Not sure why he didnt post, so I am posting for him

That's about as good of report as I've heard in weeks. Other years that would be dismal but this year that's good. Blowing now and tomorrow so it will be like starting over again. Same for the big fish. The last 5 weeks there has been a North blow. Makes it tough.

Yea this years weather just sucks. Outside of early spring, I have not even tried to perch fish yet.

You guys ain't lying best part of the north blows seems like they always fall on the weekends I try to fish

If you guys have small enough boats and are willing to travel, I'd head to South Haven: the perch bite has been nothing short of spectacular the past 3 weekends. Since this is a MI report, I wasn't sure if it would apply on the site, but I just got back from 4 days and it was fantastic. Friday started off tough with 48 degree water at the pier heads with the east wind but we eventually found them. It's been limit catches if you stay after them and don't "pack" fish with the others, as it seems like as soon as you get a school going, a pack of boats moves in on you and shuts them down with all the anchors and activity. Found fish this week anywhere from 10 feet on the beach to 55 feet: everything south of the pier head. Lots of sorting and lots of action, with a good note being a lot of smaller, healthy fish for next year, and all the fish are finding food with bait in their stomachs. we probably caught 150 sunday to sort through and keep 2 limits, especially with the MI bag limit being much larger than IN. Yesterday was a wash with the strong winds, but at least I got on the road early to beat the traffic home...

Keep in mind, the bait shop closed up there last year, so hit Slez's and stock-up with an aerated bait container! Have perch, will travel...

Thanks for the report - sounds like great action!