The good and bad of fishing

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.

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Good job you guys!!!!!

Looking back I wish I would have headed southeast instead of northwest.

Judy was knocking the snot out of these little dinks.


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Sounds like a great day for you guys. Now each Abby how to clean em too.

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Super day!

Rich, that's a dandy mess of perch. That's a good start towards filling the freezer. How's the size this year?

Steve, were you out with Aaron again? Those look like the lunkers he put you on last weekend. At least you got out, I spent the day canning tomatoes

Congrats on a great job catching and cleaning. Now only the cooking is left.

Jerry,

Size is great this year. Only 4 throw backs all day. Most fish were 8 to 10. No real jumbos but some really nice fish

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Nice showing and nice haul. I've been there and done that... having so many fish to clean at one time is no joke. Thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by spartannation

I spent the day canning tomatoes

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Oh Boy, The places i could go with that comment........

Spent the day wearing an apron........

Were you barefoot in the kitchen, as well?

Maybe just maybe, you should practice CATCHING.....:Rofl

Ok, Aaron, yuk it up! I deserve it. No apron and I had my crocks on. Had to get it done, I was out of 'maters and need them for future batches of venison chili. Got 28 quarts now so I'm good for the year. Also cut the grass, stacked firewood and went on a pre season deer scouting trip to get the testosterone flowing again after the girlie job was finished.

I used to do all the canning at my house! I would rather do that than cut grass. I hate that vial weed!! The first person that started cutting grass should have drug himself out in the street and kicked his own butt! Now, everyone keeps up with the Jones. If astro turf wasn't so expensive, I would put that in. I also considered using round up but need it for my crops.

I could class up the joint by putting a couple old washing machines, an I-ROC up on blocks, and few chained up pit bulls in the front yard but I want to maintain some sort of dignity. Besides, I live in Bunker Tuckey (there words not mine) so that is done all over the place!

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?

Quote:

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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 :(

Quote:

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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.

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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.

They taste good

Attachment 273609

I have a couple friends in the UP who use potato peelers like this one to scale their fish......usually they are passed down the family, they never seem to wear out.


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I remember one of the charter captains out of south haven used to use one of those potato peelers, sure worked good on perch and they did a ton of them.
was either captain chuck, or cap Nichols, I fished with both of them and caught hundreds of perch.....aaaaahhhhhh those were the days! :)

Nich Catch Rich,Gramps, and Abby.

Nice catch