Thread: The good and bad of fishing

Darlene and I went to Brower Park and brought home our limit of gills, I can just


imagine150,but perch are so good.

I noticed you scale your perch, do you use a drum scaler , or just scale them by hand?

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Catching 150 perch... Good!

Cleaning 150 perch... Bad!

Not many photos today. No time. Dad, Abby, and I launched out of Sterling State Park at 6:30 after stopping at Jeff's bait and tackle for 5 big scoops of minnows.

We were the 3rd rig at the launch which meant close parking for what was going to end up being a busy day. 7 knot East winds yielded 2 foot rollers so we had to take our time. We headed to a little secret spot about 1 mile east of bouy 1 and 2 at the mouth of the River Rasin.

Although I didn't mark many fish, we rigged up and dropped our duel hook Ron Spring's perch rigs in chartreuse, chartreuse and pink, and glow white and pink tipped with pin head emerald shiners.

Within a minute we had our first perch. From then on I was busy fishing, removing fish for myself and Abby, and baiting both our hooks. Abby schooled pappa and I with doubles. I swear she had eight or ten.

There was two other boats outside of me and not a boat within 300 yards. We stayed in one spot and caught 150 in a shade under 4 hours.

When I turn around to start packing gear I see somewhere close to 300 boats stretching north to south about 1 mile and probably 3/4 of a mile wide. Not sure how they were doing but I'm glad they didn't come out to visit.

4 hours to catch em, 3 hours to clean em.

Attachment 273244

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John,

I have a couple of diffrent scaling methods.

I have an electric bear paw scaler that has been in the family for probably 35 years. You can still purchase them from Bear Paw (same model). It works really well (although it is messy).

I have a bucket scaler. It is actually a horse radish grinder. You put about 30 perch in the bucket with water and then hook a variable speed drill up and run it on low for about 5 minutes. I said variable. Using a normal drill mashes them up pretty good. Mine is fried so I didn't use that on this application.

We used the electric hand scaler for most of the work. That is until it started acting up with about 20 fish to go. The last 20 I filleted and skinned. We like the skin on the perch. Seems to give a little more meat.

The drum scaler is the way to go. Frank's has a really good one that I have had my eye on for some time. Just trying to justify the purchase. 3 hours of scaling and skinning is about all the justification I need. Time would have been cut in half with the bucket scaler though. Two of us can do 100 in an hour with that unit.

Many have asked, that sink is actually 30 inches long and about 14 inches deep. Best sink I have ever installed!

thanks rich
I prefer perch with the skin on also, just really hate scaling the dang things.
I may break down and buy one of those drum scalers.........maybe.

are you talking the wedge brand drum scaler.
VERY pricey

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

John,

I have a couple of diffrent scaling methods.

I have an electric bear paw scaler that has been in the family for probably 35 years. You can still purchase them from Bear Paw (same model). It works really well (although it is messy).

I have a bucket scaler. It is actually a horse radish grinder. You put about 30 perch in the bucket with water and then hook a variable speed drill up and run it on low for about 5 minutes. I said variable. Using a normal drill mashes them up pretty good. Mine is fried so I didn't use that on this application.

We used the electric hand scaler for most of the work. That is until it started acting up with about 20 fish to go. The last 20 I filleted and skinned. We like the skin on the perch. Seems to give a little more meat.

The drum scaler is the way to go. Frank's has a really good one that I have had my eye on for some time. Just trying to justify the purchase. 3 hours of scaling and skinning is about all the justification I need. Time would have been cut in half with the bucket scaler though. Two of us can do 100 in an hour with that unit.

We picked up a tumble drum slightly used for $150 a couple years ago, works great for scaling three of us went in on it so it was a no brainer!

Thirty years ago or so, friend and I went to the Lk Mi. We came home with 225. I have never done that again. Good eating tho'. Well done Rich.