Another big lake trout caught perch fishing earns Fish of the Week; bonus fishing tips

Rustem Salim caught a 30-inch lake trout while perch fishing. | Provided

Rustem Salim continued the run of perch anglers with other catches. While jigging for perch with a quarter-ounce Steelshad blade bait on 6-pound line in the Calumet River, he caught a 30-inch lake trout.

‘‘Last year, I put it all together: Wintertime trout are on the bottom of the lake, swimming and eating dying shad,’’ Salim messaged. ‘‘Bait fish do not handle the cold-water temperatures as well as trout and salmon, so it is an easy meal for them. So I use shad-pattern lures in winter and goby in spring.’’

For perch, he vertical-jigs the Steelshad with a slow rise, then lets it flutter down and sit for a few seconds before repeating.

‘‘Works great for bigger perch,’’ Salim messaged. ‘‘It does get small ones, as well. But, for the most part, just 8 inches and up.’’

Rustem Salim gives a different view of his lake trout caught while perch fishing.

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories matter) around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).