Orillia Perch Festival

Post by **Joey Rat** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:15 pm

The festival starts around the 16th of April and runs through to early May. I'm thinking of giving this a go as my wife has to be in Barrie on business that first week and I can stay with her at the hotel for free.

It will also give me an opportunity to scope out Simcoe.

Is there anyone on the board from the area that plans to fish the festival? If so, any advice you would like to share.

I haven't actually targetted perch in about 40 years. Mostly they just show up on whatever I happen to be throwing at the bass that day. I guess it'll be back to worms for a few days and maybe some cappie tubes and that sort of thing.

We were fishing Quinte last fall and the boat behind us at the launch was a single console 1625 Lund which the fellow had won at either the 2008 or 2009 festival. Very nice prize.

It would be nice to hook one of 60 $500 tagged fish but heck I figure just being on the water will be reward enough.

Post by **wolfe** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:33 am

you should go if you can; even the hotel is set up for you! Didn't know such a festival existed. Sounds like a good time, with the bonus of the potential of winning some awesome prizes.

Orillia.......I think that's Gordon Lightfoot's home town. Isn't Couchiching in or near Orillia?

Have fun, Joey Rate -- good luck on the chance for some prizes.

W.

Post by **Joey Rat** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:23 pm

Thanks for the encouragement Wolfe and you are correct, Orillia is Gordon Lightfoot's home town. Perhaps a bit of karma kicks in here since I will ge going to see Lightfoot here in Ottawa the week before the perch festival opens.

You are also correct about Lake Couchiching, Orillia appears to sit on the shores of both Simcoe and Couchiching. The festival actually occurs on both lakes.

Post by **esoxseeker** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:58 pm

Hey Joey. I live in Orillia and fish it every year. You'll see a lot of boats by the narrows(That's where Couchiching and Simcoe meet up, can't miss it) Stay on the Simcoe side and head out til you see a massive island, its called Strawberry. That's where the pope stayed when he was here. Anyways, you'll get Massive perch there consistently. They have a daily draw, so you might just get something. All the years I've been doing it, I've won once. A really nice new Shimano rod and reel. Oh yeah, the perch love shiners. Best of luck out there. It's gonna give me a new test of the motor I just bought, so I'll be out and about too.

Post by **Joey Rat** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:56 pm

Thanks for the advice Essox. Sure it would be nice to get lucky and snag a prize but it's really all about the opportunity to get out on the water a little earlier than normal.

I'll be fishing through the week probably the Tues, Wed, Thurs of that first week.

Black 1650 Lund Rebel dual console with a 50 Honda, if you're out and about.