The Great Perch Gathering

Nobody seems to know why it happens. A thorough google search did not give any results. But in the winter and early spring an amazing migration occurs. Millions of perch in the lake move into the canal at the local marina. There can be so many that they fill the entire water column, and the fish on the surface have their dorsal fins sticking into the air. A lot of the smaller fish go as far upstream as they can, and the biggest hang out between the docks at the inlet. It is a remarkable sight, and one that can lead to phenomenal fishing. I've heard of similar gatherings in Hamburg Cove, and it seems these migrations may be a precursor to spawning in April and May, but in the lake there is a separate run when perch fill some of the inlets in May and that is clearly the spawn here. Whatever this winter schooling is, it is pretty awesome!

I used only a couple of flies, mostly because after thirty or forty fish they have become pretty messy. I also tried a few foam hoppers, because what other time will I have as shot at a white perch on a dry fly? I did get a number of takes but couldn't really set the hook. It reminded me of brookies on cork poppers on that pond in the white mountains: They REALLY wanted it but just weren't sure how to get it in their mouths. 

I quite counting after a while but I was certainly over triple digits. There is nothing quite like catching a ludicrous amount of fish, even if they aren't particularly big!