What an unbelievable trip I just had to New York state. I got a round trip ticket from Moline, IL to Buffalo, NY for ~200$ – not bad at all. The plan was to fish the Seneca Lake Duck Hunter’s Club Perch Derby with my twin cousins Craig and Ethan Sleeman. We pre-fished Friday and then tournament was Saturday and Sunday. Weigh your personal best fish and the top 10 biggest pay.
First of all, this lake is incredible. You can see down to the bottom and see fish in as deep as 30 fow. It was great to drive around in the shallows and see smallmouth, pike, perch, and big bullheads all over the place. Great way to pass the time when the perch quit cooperating during the mid-day hours.
Saturday we were on the water at 5:30 in the morning and in the last spot we had contact with a large school of perch the day before. As soon as there was a trace of light the bite was on. At first light the fish were definitely scattered around in an area and you just had to fan cast and find them. We used 1/16th and 1/8oz black jig heads and hair jigs with large fatheads or jig/twister combinations. Shortened BFT ringworms also worked well at times. Natural colors like Junebug and Cotton Candy were the best with the gin clear water. After the sun comes up on this lake the fish really group up. There will be one giant school of perch every couple of miles or so around the lake. My cousins worked hard the last couple months staying on these perch and checking their location with an underwater camera frequently. Once the fish were grouped up we would have to put the camera in the water and search for them. Once you could see them off in the distance we’d drop a marker buoy for reference and back off of the school so we wouldn’t spook them. Then just cast at them and "FISH ON!!". We’d get a few and then we’d have to find them again. It was interesting seeing how these perch would slowly move north little by little and then when they got to a certain point, they’d B-line it back to where they started. Very cool.
After day one all three of us were on the board with Saturday’s fish. Craig was in 1st and Ethan and I were in like 7th and 10th I think. However, we each caught bigger fish on Saturday night that kept alive and weighed in on Sunday. I ended up just out of the money with a 1lb 15.8 oz perch (only 14") and Ethan and Craig took 1st and 2nd place out of 183 guys with a 2lb 6.8 oz and a 2lb 6.2 oz perch. Way to go guys!! I had a blast and those perch are unbelievable!!
Here’s some more photos from the Derby!!
WOW!!! Is there a prettier fish than a perch?? Maybe a bull Gill. Congrats on some real sumo’s. What’s the biggest fish ever from that lake?
Now I know where to go if I want huge perch.
Hey Kooty!! The biggest perch in there are just pushing 3 lbs. My cousin Ethan’s biggest was 2lb 9.6 oz three years ago which he won the derby with!
Andy…Your cousin in the red shirt in the garage pic looks like Blue Fleck’s brother separated at birth!!!!
Poor Guy!
Great fish! Looks like that was a blast!
Wow Andy!!! That looks like a blast. How big of a lake is Seneca?
42,800 acres
Wikepedia Seneca Lake
Andy, what kind of length and bag limits do they have out there? Awesome perch!
no length limit and 50 fish per day per guy. There are a ton of perch in there. The big ones were 15″ and square bellied. 1lb 14oz to 2lb 7oz are the largest class or two classes in there. I also got a 15 1/4″ male!!!
Awesome post Andy…….looks like a hoot!
Wow Andy! Great report and some sumo perch with a nice looking Lake trout to boot. Were you fishing for the trout or did you just get em? By the way, tell Yanda that I have a pair of his jeans from the trip. I know they are his cause nobody else could fill these things.
John
Great Report! Those are some sumo perch!
John, just happened to catch that laker. We saw him messing with the perch on the camera and about a minute later I had him hooked! A little scary for a minute thinking it was just a monster perch…
Those are some Hog Perch
Absolutely beautiful coloring
Great Report
Great report Andy.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow Andy, that must have been cool. That laker is not a dink, how could you have thought it was a perch. Great fish……
John
Wow those are some beauties
Great report Andy.. Thanks for calling me back! Call me!
Damnnnnnn!!!
Those perch are unreal…Nice fish!
nice perch! I bet that was a blast
Very nice perch. Looks like you had great weather too. It does not get any better than that.
We were lucky to have very nice calm weather. When we were at the weigh in on Sunday the wind came up and there were white caps on the lake right away. Great timing!