My most productive rig is a single #6 long shank gold hook tied to a 8" 6 lb test leader with a loop at the end. On my main line, I put a 1/2-1 oz egg sinker just above a snap/swivel. This minimizes line twist and changeover time for re-rigging. It also maximizes feel and makes best use of bait. No, I do not catch doubles (except one time I did-2 keeper perch at the same time on the same hook!), but my hookup rate far exceeds the guys with the multi hook rigs (especially the spreaders). I tie up about 20 of these hooks with leaders before I go out. This, along with the electric filet knife have made my perchin' a lot more fun.

Jim

 

I second what Jim said. I use only a single hook as well. You can feel the fish looking at it.

 

You should not try to get that close to another boat on erie. Also i dont think it matters how close u are. there's fish everywhere in there. But i have heard that the bigger ones tend to be in the back of the group.

 

I was anchored far enough away from other boats with safety in mind, I also seen alot closer ones, not that that makes a difference..... Most boats anchored around me were somewhat similar in distance. I wondered if that was gonna come up with that post. My only reason for posting distance is that I spoke with the people on board, who had to ask what? several times, which means I could have been incorrect on my guesstimation of distance....or they, like me are a little hard of hearing......but anyhow, on to my other point...


This rig you talk about, is it somewhat similar to a drop shot rig? I'm not exactly sure what you're describing?

 

I've been using spreaders since the mid '70s, and never felt the need to change. Some of my buddies are die hard crappie rig users, though.

 

I've been using the same spreader for 3 years haven't changed a thing except hooks when they get rusted.

 

He's talking about placing a egg sinker on the main line, connecting a swivel and using a 8" leader and one hook.

This is the exact set-up I use most of the time, except I tend to go with a foot of line and all I use is 6lb, leader and main line. I catch quite a few walleyes with this rig while perch fishing, specially around the islands and reefs.

 

i like using one of those crappie style perch rigs with three hooks. the bottom hook lays lower than the sinker so this way you have 1 hook in the mud, one 3 or 4" off the bottom and the other one 5 or 6 off. went out yesterday and got 30 real nice ones in under 2 hrs in 31 fow off vermilion breakwall. almost every fish came on top or bottom hook. the walleye, now that's another story. trolled west of the sandbar few marks and no fish. after dark on the way in i stopped to drift and cast as the wind was coming up pretty good. in 39-42' off the breakwall, the walleye were stacked all over the place. they were in 8-14'. there were so many baitfish the screen was almost solid black. the walleye were right in the middle of the, tried rrs, hjs, erie deries, harnesses, minnows. no takers, but man there were a lot of fish out there.

 

Didn't know one could use three hooks on the same line?

I've been using the following rig...and it's been working pretty good for me. Slide a single hook on the mainline. Attach swivel and weight. Slide the hook 5" above the weight, double the line and make a loop around your index and middle finger. Pull tight. The hook should be swinging freely on the loop you created. Cut a 6" piece of mono and attach another single hook. Tie this leader directly to the eyelet on the top of the weight.

You'll be surprised how many fish you catch on that bottom hook.

Use a GOOD swivel to lessen line twist...bounce the rig on the bottom occasionally...

 

Didn't know one could use three hooks on the same line?

It's legal...

FISHING LINES- Anglers may not use more than two fishing lines, whether fastened to a pole, a rod and reel, or hand held. Anglers may use up to three hooks on each line, except as provided in the Ohio Administrative Code.

http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/fishing_general.aspx

 

I use the crappie rig with 2 hooks just because I dont like baiting 3 works great with 3/4oz weight

 

I like the crappie rigs and make my own for Erie. Using 20 lb. test for the rig, I attach two lines(each 6 inches long), one 6 inches up from the sinker on the bottom, and another about 8 inches above the bottom one. I use #2 gold aberdeen hooks so I don't deep hook many fish. Before I tie on the hook, I thread a bright green "jeweled" bead from any craft store by double looping the line thru it, tie on the hook and slide the bead down to the snell on the hook. Bead size doesn't seem to matter too much as long as it's approx. 1/4-5/16" in diameter. Sometimes I use one green and one red. These seem to outfish the guys on the boat with spreaders. Interestingly, one of the guys on my boat last time out caught a decent sized perch with BOTH hooks in it's mouth using the rig above.

 

I've been using spreaders since I started perchin 50 years ago. I have used crappie rigs and rigs similar to whats been discussed here and keep going back to my spreaders.Its been an argument with some of my fishing buddies for years. As you can see from this thread, a lot of good fishermen are on both sides of this issue. As far as being 15 ft. from a boat pulling jumbos, I've been on the other side of my boat and had that happen both ways, being the puller and watching them being pulled. There's no right or wrong way to perch fish. Whatever works for you.

 

I like using a single hook also. It takes longer to fill a limit but in turn that is getting me out of the house and on the water longer. Also use fireline. You can really feel the bites and when you do get a good fish, the no stretch line really lets you feel him. Kinda like hitting a brick wall when you set the hook on jumbos. Now I can't wait to get back out there.

 

I have always used the snells that have the little red beads and a small silver or gold spinner on it and a long shank hook. Never fails.

Rich

 

I prefer the crappie rig with two hooks... and a 6mm light green or red bead above each hook.

Juls

 

Which ever one will catch the fish...! Preferably, a crappie setup with double hooks and a bead just over the top with #4 gold hooks. Speaders, in my opinion are better suited when the bite is really on...and of course if that's really the case it doesn't matter what setup you're using. Spreaders will put your bait at the same level whereas a crappie rig will stagger the depth to some degree to better hone in on an ideal depth.

 

i remember reading an article in one of the outdoor magazines years ago and it said if you hook a perch let it be and often another one will come along so as not to miss the action. tried that yesterday and it really works. my biggest fish of the day came on doubleheaders that way

 

Both work for me, preacherman is right, on a hot bite if using 2 hooks or more, be a little patient after that first hookup and often you"ll slam a double. A week ago Sun at Conny this happened quite often with my one buddy pulling up a triple, (all 3 nice ones too)

 

This is a rig called a TNT Perch Jerk we've been using for years. It is similar to a Crappie rig except it's made totally out of .041 SS wire. Because it is made out of wire and not mono it is a lot more sensitive and durable.

 

Less is more, IMHO. I use a little plastic device called a "Bear's Paw" (available at any local bait store) to attach a snelled gold hook about 8" up the main line and a second one about 8 more inches up. The Bears Paw holds the snell out at a 90 degree angle from the standing line. A snap swivel with an egg sinker is tied to the bitter end. When using a braid like Fireline or Power Pro (which I absolutely recommend), I'll use about 3 feet of 10# fluorocarbon leader to which I attach all of the above. You'll outfish the spreader guy 2 to 1.

 

Just something about those beads that perch like. I used to use the small spinners-metallics and painted and they usually produced-but I like the beads best. I think it's truly amazing you can anchor up off shore in L Erie just about anywhere past 30 ft deep in NE Ohio and fish shiners for perch this time of year. They may start out real slow sometimes but when they start, it's usually non-stop to limit! I think the feeding commotion gets them stoked and more are continually drawn in.

 

Been using them for years, but didn't have any with me this past Sunday. I dug them out Sunday night though. I use them similar to dropshotting, when ice fishing, but I think they'll fit the bill better here. I already use Vanish at the end of my Power Pro...............thanks all for some good answers..........

 

spreader w/blades.

 

That's what comes to mind when I look at that. Any general area, or don't ya want to elaborate. I remember last week, a fella said he was catching them on spreaders w/o blades. On Sunday, I used ones with blades, the most productive was a chartruese with some purlpe and blue stripes mixed in. Never did try a "naked" spreader. Anyhow, a coupla nice "samiches" there!