FS Digest

Do you guys have any tips for lure fishing for perch I keep getting skunked. I’m more of a pike fisherman myself but I see so many perch but they are just so finicky and I can’t hook them

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by ForeignSpecial7790

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Over the years, my best producer of perch via a lure is a Lazy Ike, also known as Kautzky in the old vintage models. Original ones were made of wood so they floated. You need to add a little weight if you want them to get deeper. The modern versions are made of a dense plastic, and they slowly sink on their own. They also made a "Deep Ike" and "Jointed Ike" too, but in general I like the basic design, which is sort of like a Helin "Flatfish".

For perch I fish these in the water column where I think the fish are, as opposed to right on bottom or up on the surface.

The Ike's are also "killer" for smallmouth bass when fished on bottom using the typical "drop shot" technique that is popular with rubber baits. Cast out, let sink, reel back slowly and hang on to the rod handle! Depending on the water depth, they also work well up higher in the water too...just like fishing any other lure based on conditions and where the fish are suspended.

Favorite color is the brown or blackish one for perch, as well as bass. To me it gives the illusion of a crayfish. I have also used small Mepps spinners if I am casting. If I am anchored and jigging, then I use Swedish Pimples and Rapala ice fishing jig/minnows.

I get my Lazy Ikes on E-Bay, antique shops and once in a great while when I stop into a tackle shop that still has "new old stock" on the wall from days gone by. My favorite Sporting Goods store is Dukes Sport Shop in downtown Newberry, MI. Great place to spend an hour if you are not fishing!

A favorite color for perch


many colors to choose from


sizes range from an inch and a half to almost 4

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

If those are your tackle boxes, you do like Lazy Ikes.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

I grew up fishing with these as a "go to" lure, and while I still have many from childhood my supply has been supplemented by scrounging. I have a ton of fun using "old" classic lures like these, along with the L & S Mirrolures and Cisco Kids for instance to name a few other favorites.

While some folks just collect them, I like to see if they still catch fish...and they do! Actually, I think that the Lazy Ikes are back in circulation being marketed by one of the conglomerate companies that saw fit to keep them alive.

There is so much tackle on the market that it almost makes your head "swim" with choices these days and sometimes it is nice to take a nostalgic approach....especially when the fish are hungry and seem to grab anything you throw at them!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I have a box of old crankbaits hanging on the wall of my party room that has about 1/2 doz. Lazy Ikes in it. I think 4 of them are red & white.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Cool! Fishing lures have a certain "out of water" beauty that one can admire. I think it may be the shape or paint job. I have not done this yet, but every now and then I think about selecting a dozen of my all time favorite lures, and then placing a good fresh version in a 3D shadow box for display...much like what you have said. In the off season it would be nice to look at it and reflect on years gone by.

JRK227 Loc: Cedarburg, WI

I've had good results using Acme Kastmasters for panfish.

fishing rod Loc: Michigan

I have a daughter in Traverse and a son in Petosky, unfortunately they dont fish much.
I used to have a lazy ike, going to get another one. They catch lots of fish.

TimHall Loc: Detroit, Mi; Mayville, NY

lazy ike is a recently concocted name for that lure. these are almost exact copies of the helin brand flatfish which was one of the best bass lures of the 40s and 50s. i'm glad to see someone is producing them now. they should be extremely effective as all the fish that would remember them have either died or been fried a long time ago.

Geo616 Loc: Delaware

Mepps spinners, catches anything that swims

Geo616 Loc: Delaware

Mepps spinners, catches anything that swims

Freshwater Fin Loc: Killbuck Ohio

I’ve caught them on small gittzit jigs tipped with small piece of worm

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Use to be called Heddon Flatbush also if I'm not mistaking I still use some old ones for Smallmouth

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

They were also called Flatfish I believe Heddon made them I still use a couple old ones when I'm smallmouth fishin

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

There's also small minnows and the ever popular earthworm them yellaperch sure do taste good don't they?😃