Go Deep for Big Ice Perch

[@khanhtuannguyen]

Blake I think that jacket got special power. You always slay with it lol!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Khan! My Mom got it for me from the Grocery Outlet like 15 years ago. Need to fix the zipper. Besides that it is a great jacket!

[@andersonj1each26]

Good on your buddy for feeding the heron! I’m surprised he was hanging around but he probably knows he will get a meal with ice fisherman! Love your videos keep it up! Ice fishing is on my list, just came back from Leavenworth and I didn’t get to go to fish lake or lake Wenatchee. Wanted to go fishing so bad.

[@WAFishQuest]

That heron is super well feed. I bet we gave it three and he got at least three more from other folks. Hope you can make it out! Thanks for the kind words as always!

[@wojomojo]

Good tip Blake! Dying to go ice fishing but won't be able to go until quite late, hope the ice holds up!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Wojomojo! Hopefully February brings some cold temps. A lot of lakes are turning to slush.

[@vaughnprecision]

Nice work sir.! The biggest perch I ever caught was at Potholes, 14” hog. I’ll be honest though, it wasn’t as good as the 9-10” models. Do I smell a fish fry in the future 😂

[@WAFishQuest]

Wow, that's basically a walleye at that point! Those 40 perch were dinner for three.

[@easterdm]

The phone that close to the hole makes me so nervous. Very cool system, though.

[@WAFishQuest]

I didn't even think about that... But now that I do remarkable it made it home!

[@Kado244]

Awsome video Blake!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton Kayden!

[@ThePiscatorian360]

Nice job guys! Have fun cleaning those fish. Totally worth the effort they are sure delicious.

[@WAFishQuest]

I got 80 little fillets... And 40 little crab baits 😂 thanks Jerry!

[@ThePiscatorian360]

@@WAFishQuest I want to see the crab cam in action when you use those little baits! 😆

[@entinthetent]

I haven’t done too much ice fishing this year. Glad to see that you guys got on them though, great stuff!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton Troy! Too bad you couldn't join us on Banks this weekend. You didn't miss any fish, but some great chili!

[@joepierce9212]

heck yeah man it was great to see you out on a lake would love to fish with ya one of these days

[@WAFishQuest]

Hey Joe! Maybe some day! Great to meet you!

[@Pklos44]

Blake! Would love to take you out sometime on my tandem kayak for the neah bay bottomfish opener sometime

[@WAFishQuest]

Hey Peter! I'd be game!

[@brianboatman5564]

As always, nice work!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you as always Brian!

[@PoserdaveOutdoors]

Sad I missed ya but glad you guys found some fish!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Dave! Bummer you couldn't make it, but maybe next time! I know you've been saying!

[@John-hp2hg]

How come I only see people catch these during winter? Are they not tasty during other times?

[@weerezboy28]

Good question John. They do taste good other times of the year, they are just popular to ice fish for because they like the school up in deep water during winter because that is where the warm water is located in the winter. This makes them easy to spot on a fish finder and drop a small lure or jig into the school and usually get a good amount of bites. In spring and summer they travel around in smaller schools and can be located all over the lake, so unless you know specific basins or humps that they frequent, they can be harder to find. P.S. I'm the tall goofball in the green and yellow coat and hat in the video.

[@John-hp2hg]

@@weerezboy28 Thanks for the info!

[@WAFishQuest]

What Brad said. Ha ha. Thank you both! I could just as easily fish for trout in winter too, but I don't eat much trout. I'll eat perch tho!

[@davidcoolclaves2521]

Nice when we’re you guys there

[@WAFishQuest]

Heya David! I'd have to check the calendar, but I think it was very early January. Like the 4th or 5th maybe?

[@weerezboy28]

What a fun day out on Scoot. Sure glad we found the schools of those bigger perch. Definitely wish the ice held up longer out there so I could have gone out a few more times.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the great day of fishing Brad! It was a pretty perfect day.

[@fishingwithfoxxxy1371]

still wana fish with you some day

[@fishingwithfoxxxy1371]

I've seen so big ones on Facebook in the 1lb range

[@weerezboy28]

@@fishingwithfoxxxy1371 that big one is probably about the size of normal Curlew lake perch. Was definitely a surprise to catch in Scooteney.

[@WAFishQuest]

There are def bigger perch out there. But usually in only a handful of bodies of water like Curlew. Thanks!

[@fishingwithfoxxxy1371]

@WA Fish Quest never been ice fishing I got all the stuff but no one is interested in going

[@troytwibell6876]

Nice haul! I was perch fishing the last two days here on the west side. No perch, just a bunch of pesky rainbows…

[@WAFishQuest]

Ha ha, that happens to me too Troy.

[@kalebsheridan9017]

Man I know a lake where I can consistently catch perch in the 1-2 lb range. Not a big lake either. In Washington too.

[@kalebsheridan9017]

I'd post a pic if I knew how

[@WAFishQuest]

I don't know if you mean Curlew, but I've never fished it. Or really been on a big perch lake. That's awesome, tho! Glad you have that spot.

[@kalebsheridan9017]

@@WAFishQuest Not curlew but the Fio Rito lakes outside ellensburg. I'd catch them while fishing senko rigs for bass. I've caught multiple back to back as well, not just a one off thing.

[@ilonakiforishin1273]

Nice :)

[@JD-ft2lr]

Reminds me of a saying a buddy had when caping big game "when in doubt, go deep". Could apply to other things I suppose

[@WAFishQuest]

I know, spelunking right? Ha ha.

[@WorkingClassFishingPodcast]

Those are some nice perch! I've looked at those castable fish finders, I like those ones the best out of all of the ones that are available, definitely better than old flasher. We have a few lakes around here that have perch, I've often thought about going out and giving it a shot in the winter. Great stuff as always Blake.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always WCFP! The app on the fish finder stopped working a couple times. Besides that no complaints. (you just reset the app and it works again). Could just be my cheap phone tho.

[@rickomatic2012]

I kept waiting for your phone to fall into the hole....

[@WAFishQuest]

It's amazing that it didn't in retrospect!

[@Bo_in_Seattle]

Nice episode Blake. Clobbered those perch.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always Bo!

[@JD-ft2lr]

I like everything about this channel. Thanks for keeping things real!!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always J D! 🙏

[@HobbiesHobo]

Pan fried perch! Oh yeah.

[@weerezboy28]

Nothing better than a perch fry!

[@WAFishQuest]

You know it Mike! 80 very small fillets.

[@ronjones1414]

The worst day fishing is better than the best day working; but it helps when you can't beat em off with a stick!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Ron! It was a fun day! Perfect ice too. Right before a warm snap.

[@calvinoutdoors4846]

That was super cool 😎

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you sir! 🙏

[@deshwitat]

What is the way you cook your Perch?