there has always been good numbers of perch in that lake and big. But there are a lot of experiments done there from fresh water mussels to trout and weed control. You maybe right something has changed that may have impacted Perth. They are very aggressive which is what I enjoyed when targeting them but also may have made them a target. 

As a child, I used to summer holiday in W Ireland and there was a lake on our farm that had trout & perch and it wasn't uncommon to catch a perch up to 3 1/2 lb and I used to bring them back to eat - no electricity and cooked on an open peat fire. They were way better than trout. All caught on a worm.

Lures that work well:- black/gold Toby, Veltic with a wet fly instead of a treble, Rapala and various soft plastics. A red-head with in-built upwards hook works well, too - that catches all fish...trout, kahawai, skipjack and albacore, too.
The lake isn't deep near the bank with submerged weeds so a not too heavy lure.
I've seen some Chinese take perch, rudd and catfish home to eat but I don't.

The electro fishing boat has been really busy lately, ive seen it in out on ham lake at least 4 times. That thing puts a dent in any fish numbers. You should see how many that thing stuns when they zap the water,amazing to watch. 

Fishb8 wrote: Thanks for that. There are (were) some spots that always held fish but I've blanked there every time. Never knew that electro-fishing was going on. Who is doing it? HCC? Are tench getting zapped too?

I don't think the electrodes target certain species

Has anyone spoken to Fish and game about the Electrofishing? We certainly don't have a friend in Mr Hicks at the Uni if he is involved in this! If they really want to use that boat effectively get rid of the catfish.

Already emailed will see what Adam says. In the past he has been on the boat monitoring what has been happening. But give him a call also, the more who call to find out the more F and G know that people are interested in an urban fishery.

I've caught perch almost everywhere around the lake from the playground at Southern end, especially the old water slide. Then, all the way alongside the domain road.
My biggest was off the point where the power boaters operate from.
If you have a kayak, then the SW are off the water lillies is the deepest spot in the lake and the biggest fish live there.
There are tench in the lake especially the NW side near Innes Common. They eat bread, sweetcorn and grow to 2.5 kg.

are there turtles back in turtle lake? I know they caught and removed the breeding pair many years ago but also heard of one or two releases of pets back in.

Thanks guys
I’m into flyfishing so will give it a try next time up there, anyone catching them on a fly?
Cheers
Pedro