It has been years since I have seen any decent size perch. Most lakes got so over fished by people who would take hundreds home. They just haven't recovered it seems even though there is a 15 fish/ day limit. The government waited too long it seems.
I think that what has seriously impacted the perch fishing is the zero catch limit walleye rules.
Pigeon used to produce lots of perch now not so much just one example
we have some great perch lakes up here, Utikima and Utikimasis near Gift Lake, or Winagami Lake near McLennan....pulled a few of them little footballs from each well over a pound. some nice walleye in Winagami biting right now, my pops just yoinked out an 8lb'er last week