Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 26

WINTER PERCH

of Presque Isle Bay
by Darl Black

photos by the author

Presque Isle Bay, Erie County, may be the most popular
winter destination for Yellow Perch in Pennsylvania. This
3,800-acre bay off Lake Erie not only gives up large numbers
of Yellow Perch during cold weather months, but it also
yields many "jumbos"-perch of exceptional size. Anglers
from Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania travel to Presque
Isle Bay for ice fishing season.
While small perch inhabit Presque Isle Bay all summer, a
massive influx of larger Yellow Perch takes place in the late
fall and winter as schools from Lake Erie migrate into the bay
to wait for an early spring spawn.
The current Pennsylvania State-Record Yellow Perch came
from Presque Isle Bay. This 2-pound, 14-ounce perch was
caught in 2016 by Brian Clark shortly after ice-out.
Kirk Rudzinski is a long-time ice angler and owner of East
End Angler, one of several "mom and pop" bait and tackle
shops that dot the Erie area.
"When the water temperature drops below 65 degrees F
in the early fall, the first perch schools begin to show up,"
said Rudzinski. "These fish move through the channel and
gradually filter to all parts of the bay. As the water continues
to cool, more perch enter Presque Isle Bay."

26

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2020	

This veteran angler explains that until safe ice forms, usually
mid-January, shore-bound anglers catch perch at North Pier,
South Pier, Dobbins Landing, foot of Holland Street, Liberty
Park, Ferncliff and several other sites. Of course, boat anglers
have flexibility for offshore fishing sites, generally launching
from the Chestnut Street Boat Launch on city-side or Niagara
Boat Launch and Presque Isle Marina on the peninsula.

Until sections of Presque Isle Bay freeze solid enough for ice fishing,
usually not until sometime in January, perch anglers fish from
docks and piers primarily on the city-side of Presque Isle Bay, as
well as from the north and south channel breakwalls. Many preice-cover perch are holding in deeper water, and these sites typically
have water depths of 15- to 27-feet.
www.gonefishingpa.com



http://www.gonefishingpa.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover1
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Contents
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover4
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