Twenty-two years ago, I helped a USA rep set up the marketing for an Atlantis underwater camera. So he gave me one. Next time I went ice fishing, I tried it, and to my surprise, when it hit the bottom, a large amount of sediment kicked up.

I couldn’t see anything. Then I saw small bug- like creatures darting across the camera lens. These small creatures were Scuds — a small amphipod that lives in the bottom sediment along with red worms, wigglers, mayfly larvae, and other bug larvae. Once the sediment settled, I saw a lot of perch coming in to feed.

Have you ever caught perch in deep water, and when they come up, they are puking up a brown sludge? That’s Scuds.

The Perch Caller does 3 things: it stirs up the bottom, thus exposing amphipods; it creates a flash from the silver and gold spoons; and the beads make a clicking sound like small crawfish. This draws in the perch.

Just pound the bottom and they will come running.

Rocky Madsen