Perch or bluegill? Help.

[Ksam1234]

A new lake I fish this year that I found has a lot of healthy bass.  Have caught bass from 6 inches to 6 pounds and one thing I notice is they are all fat! Super healthy fat bass but I notice in the lake there is a lot of perch and I haven’t seen many bluegill. There are bluegill but I come across more perch than anything.    I’m wondering if bass eat perch? And would they be a main forage for bass if the bluegill popular was lower.  Also what lures would you use then to mimic perch? Obviously jigs or swimjigs of perch color but I feel like there has to be a huge 8+ in here. Here are some pics to i believe they are perch. Hard to tell in the picture. 

[The Bassman]

Bass eat anything that moves (except for my lure half the time). Don't be too concerned with color matching species.

[shovelmouth83]

perch. 

[WRB]

Catch them and you will know. Can't see the dark gill tab but could be juvenile female Bluegill or perch?

Tom

[Ksam1234]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

Catch them and you will know.

Tom

I know there are perch in here but I’m wondering if they would be the main forage or the bluegills ? And would it be beneficial to try and mimic perch or throw a perch swimbait to try and get that big one. 

[Munkin]

Mattlures makes a small perch swimbait.

 

Allen

[LCG]

To a bass, food is food. They eat perch no question about it. They also eat bluegills, minnows, worms, insects, crawfish, etc. 

 

Mimicking local forage is never a bad idea. Anything that resembles a perch would probably work very well. 

[WRB]

Bluegill are dermasel fish, Perch are pelagic fish both fill different niches within the lakes eccosystem. Dermasel means close to the shoreline and cover verses pelagic means open water and off shore structure oriented fish. Both will share the same cover for protection and seeking small prey sources.

Perch are easier for bass to swallow and a preffered prey when available. Bluegill are spiny and more difficult for bass to swallow when adult size.

Lots of lure choices.

Tom

 

[Ksam1234]

39 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bluegill are dermasel fish, Perch are pelagic fish both fill different niches within the lakes eccosystem. Dermasel means close to the shoreline and cover verses pelagic means open water and off shore structure oriented fish. Both will share the same cover for protection and seeking small prey sources.

Perch are easier for bass to swallow and a preffered prey when available. Bluegill are spiny and more difficult for bass to swallow when adult size.

Lots of lure choices.

Tom

 

Thank you , I figured perch were easier for them to swallow not being so “tall” and and spiny.  I picked up a couple perch lures for the Labor Day sale .. guess we will see how it goes