Hey all,

 

I am just curious because the local lake I fish has yellow perch as the main forage (or so I think it’s at least the bait fish I can see close to the bank) not sure if any blue gill are in this lake or not. 

 

Now if im trying to match the hatch to yellow perch can I use some bluegill imitators? I know they don’t really look a like to me but to a bass idk. I’m asking primarily because while some baits/lures do have perch patterns some do not. Yet they have bluegill. 

 

For example would something like this with a green pumpkin trailer work? To match a yellow perch? 

 

 

 

Looks perchy to me. 

You could always easily change out the skirt to something with a tad more yellow and orange, while keeping the same SwimJig head . But I'm willing to bet that jig should work as is if the water isn't ultra clear

 

Learn how to make your own shirts.

Then just pick a head & hook design you like along with the trailer of your choice and you'er good.

I fish 'perch as bait' heavy waters, and what I have routinely found is that a bait doesn't 'need to look exactly' like whatever, usually just close is good.  And sometimes having more of just one of the primary colors is better.

A-Jay

My advice is to not overdue the orange, perch only have orange on their fins and generally very little and don't forget a touch of white for their belly. If a bass is looking up at your bait the white on the bottom is helpful. If you want to be all in, they do have black on top too:)

 

My 2 attempts are on bottom. 

 

 

I use 2 or 3 different skirts that resemble different perch/panfish.

 

Allen

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

Learn how to make your own shirts.

Then just pick a head & hook design you like along with the trailer of your choice and you'er good.

I fish 'perch as bait' heavy waters, and what I have routinely found is that a bait doesn't 'need to look exactly' like whatever, usually just close is good.  And sometimes having more of just one of the primary colors is better.

A-Jay

Do you find it cheaper to make your own jigs? 

I've had a killer day using a perch pattern squarebill

 

@A-Jay @Munkin @cgolf if I start to try to make my own where do I start from, like where do y’all buy the skirts/jig heads at?

JannsNetcraft, Fishingskirts.com, Barlows Tackle, and LurePartsOnline are the major places.

 

Allen

Also want to throw out TW although their stock can suck at times, but is a good place to get a few colors to start out with if you don't plan on buying in bulk and of course you can get other tackle too;) This is where I got my starting stash of colors, when I need to order again I will likely do a bigger order from fishingskirts.com.

8 minutes ago, cgolf said:

Also want to throw out TW although their stock can suck at times, but is a good place to get a few colors to start out with if you don't plan on buying in bulk and of course you can get other tackle too;) This is where I got my starting stash of colors, when I need to order again I will likely do a bigger order from fishingskirts.com.

so TW is where you mainly get your jig heads?

Right now I have gotten my jigheads through them. I primarily use the Santone Rayburn heads but also like the outcast swim jig heads. The Omega heads in the picture haven't been used yet so not sure what I think of them. I think fishingskirts carries the Boss line of heads.

 

I also had a lot of older spinnerbaits that needed new skirts too.

http://www.lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Classic-Series/

 

Lurepartsonline has a good selection of pre-made heads.

 

Allen

14 minutes ago, Munkin said:

http://www.lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Classic-Series/

 

Lurepartsonline has a good selection of pre-made heads.

 

Allen

Nice I really like there prices. If my math is on it’d cost ~ 2.50 per jig with shipping. That would make dealing with getting one snagged much easier than 5-7 dollars per jig lol. 

If you want to step into the swimbait game, with these ^

 

Otherwise I use swimjigs a lot. There's a lot of crossover between the sunfish and perch patterns usually so I honestly don't know which the bass are always going after.

 

Perch have vertical dark contrasting bars, green back, yellowish/gold background with dark green bars and orange fins. That pattern and colors should work; i.e. Fire Tiger.

Tom

4 hours ago, Munkin said:

http://www.lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Classic-Series/

 

Lurepartsonline has a good selection of pre-made heads.

 

Allen

A little off topic, but thanks for the link their Ned heads look nice and they have smaller hooks than the Seibert Morels. 

 

 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Perch have vertical dark contrasting bars, green back, yellowish/gold background with dark green bars and orange fins. That pattern and colors should work; i.e. Fire Tiger.

Tom

Fire tiger cranks have been a staple color for WI bass even in gin clear water. The only bummer is the fire tiger jig skirts I have found have all the right colors, just not the same look as a crank, real jumbled. Wonder if I take a sharpie to the jigs I tied above to add the vertical bars if it would make a difference or not?

Barlows Tackle has striped silicone skirt layers #220 & 229 look like good perch skirts, add a perch swimbait trailer and you are good go.

Tom

MtH has much more to do with context: where, when, and how than what the lure looks like in hand.

This guy has been a great bait for me for both largemouth and smallmouth in the lakes around my place the last few years, works well for either a perch or bluegill imitation. 

11 hours ago, Sharkicane said:

Do you find it cheaper to make your own jigs? 

Not really cheaper ~ 

But in the end, I do get exactly what I want.

The other side of that is I have no one else to blame when I don't get bit  . . 

A-Jay

On ‎6‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 11:12 AM, Sharkicane said:

Do you find it cheaper to make your own jigs? 

After an initial investment yes but like A-Jay said you make exactly what you want.

 

Problem with making them is you just started a new hobby which will cost you. My current issue is I bought some new aluminum swimbait molds and my wife will not let me pour in the basement anymore. She says it stinks up the house and my garage does not have power.

 

Allen

15 hours ago, Way north bass guy said:

This guy has been a great bait for me for both largemouth and smallmouth in the lakes around my place the last few years, works well for either a perch or bluegill imitation. 

I have something similar to this, that is really old, is made of balsa, and appears to have been hand made back in the day. It belonged to my great uncle Terri, so it has some sentimental value and I've never actually used it. Plus it needs a set of new split rings and hooks before it could be used.

8 minutes ago, FishDewd said:

I have something similar to this, that is really old, is made of balsa, and appears to have been hand made back in the day. It belonged to my great uncle Terri, so it has some sentimental value and I've never actually used it. Plus it needs a set of new split rings and hooks before it could be used.

 

You sure that is a Balsa bait? It looks like a early 70's floating Smithwick Rogue. Does it have ROGUE in block letters on the belly by the front hook?

 

Allen

16 hours ago, cgolf said:

A little off topic, but thanks for the link their Ned heads look nice and they have smaller hooks than the Seibert Morels. 

 

 

If you plan on ordering a lot of them just order directly from Jim at Cast Industries as they make them for LurePartsOnline.

 

Allen