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Silver Lake Report
Spokane County, WA

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Details

01/02/2011
Perch
Afternoon
01/03/2011
4
1925

Ah Eloika, we've had some good times this season, but like a high-maintenance girlfriend, you made me work too hard for too little. Now that Silver's iced... hasta la vista, baby...

Got out late this morning and missed the morning bite, so thought I'd head over to Silver to see if 2 days of sub-freezing temps had generated enough ice. Was pleasantly surprised to see the parking partly plowed and a bunch of anglers on the ice. Fished from 11:15-16:45. Ventured out to 30' of water and wandered around drilling holes around 20-25' of water (6"+ of ice). No hits or even any interest on the sonar. Bite had turned off from the AM, so everyone began to peel off for lunch. Finally it was just me, sitting out there by my lonesome. Set out a tip-up for the first time since I've got a 2-pole license and jigged in another hole. Flags kept coming up, but no fish on. I was sorta using it as an indicator for fish. Eventually come ~1:30-2:00, the bite turned on. Picked up all my fish out of one hole (25' of water), not of my own drilling - came from one of the morning crew. Took home 37 perch and only had to release ~2-3 small ones. Even when I left there were still a ton of fish on the sonar.

First hot lure today was a 1/8oz clown jigging rap. After I got my first fish and switched to eyes, the bite got consistent. Good 'ol Silver Lake perch love eyes. After the jigging rap got them all turned on, switched to a 1/12oz silver/chartreuse kastmaster and began getting 'em in earnest. Caught a few on a #12 diamond eyes and a few on a #10 chartreuse Genz worm, but most came on the kastmaster. You could tell when the eye'd come off, cause they'd all just stare and hover around the lure, but no bites despite it being tipped with a Berkeley power wiggler as well. Perch were sitting on the bottom.

Filleting was a chore, but I was quite happy to fill the freezer. Found one fish with a coiled 6"+ tapeworm... grossed me out... Gonna make sure I cook those fish well. Anybody ever eat the eggs?

Looking forward to more days on the ice at Silver. Wonder when those herons are gonna show up for handouts like last year.


Comments

kevinb
1/3/2011 4:01:00 PM
Dang dude! What time is dinner? Well done and excellent report,just like wheeezzy's perch,they look nice and plump.
These perch are eating well
The Jigmiester
1/3/2011 5:40:00 PM
Jay K. An African American lady used to fry up "ring tail" perch eggs for me when she babysat me for my mom when I was little. She'd soak them over night in salt water (which removes any fish blood and firms the eggs up enough to cook), pat dry and saute them in butter, add garlic & onion powder on medium heat and mix them into the pan with scrambled eggs. I never quite got used to the light, granular texture and "soft" fishy flavor, yet Miss Mary loved Perch eggs! I've got a great white meat fish fry batter too for your perch. Nice report. Jiggy
russ2683
1/3/2011 6:02:00 PM
awesome report i know where im going this weekeind
Anglinarcher
1/3/2011 7:04:00 PM
I know people that think perch eggs, and for that matter trout eggs, are the best part of a fish. Personally I can't stand them, but I suspect it is like drinking beer, an acquired taste.
MarkFromSea
1/3/2011 7:31:00 PM
That's the most successful ice report I've seen so far this season! Thanks for sharing.
yooper_fisher
1/3/2011 7:52:00 PM
A buddy of mine back east loves perch eggs, I can't remember how he said he cooks them but I can find out for you if you want.
Xwisconyfisherman
1/3/2011 10:51:00 PM
Jay K,
Whats the average size of the perch you get out of Silver? Over the last 2 years I've caught bigger fish from Eloika but my Vexlar works a lot better in Silver! I've never really ran into any nice ones but I've sure gave those herons some real nice dinners lol
Jay K
1/3/2011 11:47:00 PM
@Xwisconyfisherman- Last year required a lot of sorting, until I found that the bigger perch really did stay in deeper water. This year I'm also using bigger lures and so really only getting the bigger perch to bite. I didn't measure any of the perch I brought back from Sunday, but I'll let you know next batch I get. I can definitely use the ice flasher option better at Silver. At Eloika b/c of the shallow water and weeds, I tended to use the regular sonar function instead. @fish egg replies - I've read about mixing 'em with scrambled eggs and deep frying 'em after first boiling 'em (otherwise they'll explode). I'll try 'em and see.
MotoBoat
1/4/2011 3:07:00 PM
Jay K, what a sport. No one double dog dared you to try them fish eggs, and your voluntarily going to try them.......whoa! I see how you roll.......on the wild, adventurous side! He he he. If at any time during this experiment you develop slimy skin, hands like fins or your eyes resembling that of the Quarries eggs your slurping down................consider that transformation...............revenge of the mighty drag screaming, line breaking Perch! Or something like that.

Thought.....chew the eggs thoroughly, so your belly does not become a human incubator! That would feel weird and odder things have happened........or have they?
BMGW
1/6/2011 10:23:00 AM
Right on!
steel_lee
1/18/2011 5:44:00 PM
Great job on staying with the search and the trigger to catch them. I should would like to watch you work your kastmaster and other hardware for fish. No mention of crappie at Silver? Have you ever found them there?

Lee
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709