First Evening Of Crank Bait Fishing

[C0lt]

bought my first crankbait. A kvd 1.5 in gizzard shad. Took it down to the reservoir behind my house and fished it for an hour or so. Ended up catching two fish. a pound and a half large mouth, and a really nice yellow perch, which happened to be my first one. I wish I had a scale and measuring tape ( let me know if any of you have length estimates). By the way, dont make fun of me for the work glove. I had head stories about sharp barbs on the gill plates, and I had no idea if they had teeth or not. 

[Dwight Hottle]

Your perch may go 12" & weigh 3/4 to 1lb. Perch have no teeth and no sharp gill plates like walleye.

[C0lt]

Your perch may go 12" & weigh 3/4 to 1lb. Perch have no teeth and no sharp gill plates like walleye.

I figured that out after a thorough investigation of the fish 

[jtharris3]

I was thinking 12"-13" too. A very nice perch for sure!

[VAHunter]

Your perch may go 12" & weigh 3/4 to 1lb. Perch have no teeth and no sharp gill plates like walleye.

Agree that the gill plates are not like walleye, but they are still sharp on a yellow perch.  They can leave a nasty cut if you don't hold them properly.  Again, not as bad as walleye, or even white perch for that matter, but they can "get you."

[C0lt]

Agree that the gill plates are not like walleye, but they are still sharp on a yellow perch.  They can leave a nasty cut if you don't hold them properly.  Again, not as bad as walleye, or even white perch for that matter, but they can "get you."

best way to hold them?

[VAHunter]

Run your hand down from both sides, just under the eye, until you are holding both sides of the gill plate.  Either that or lip'em when they get to be the size of the one you caught!