As winter progressed, perch jigging became an art form, with just the right touch needed to coax reluctant fish. The bite was focused in the morning and evening, with moon phase playing a prominent role in determining fish activity levels. The glory days arrived in late March or April, as the strengthening sun turned the upper layer of ice into slush and Canada geese barked from open stretches along channels. Furious action, sunburn, and perch averaging well over a pound apiece were the hallmarks of those delicious spring days with my father and friends. Perch culture and traditions fit these definitions, yet those among us who can identify with this lifestyle have not recognized its cultural aspects and taken the steps to document and preserve it.
People seem to rely on outsiders to document their culture.
Perch culture is part of a modern hunting and gathering lifestyle often imposed on and integrated with an advancing technological society. It is an important adaptation, a bridge between a subsistence and a technological world. The culture strengthens the family unit, while training and developing children in life skills, knowledge and an enduring link with the natural world. The perch culture is transferred from generation to generation through family traditions, built on the stories, knowledge, skills, and activities related to the fishery. This might be symbolized in some cultures through art, literature, and music, but nothing so compelling seems to be forthcoming for the yellow perch.