When putting together your perch rig, keep your bait at the tip of the hook to improve your chances of setting the hook in the small mouth of a perch. Remove and discard ribs. The scientific name of the yellow perch is Perca flavescens, which in Latin means “gold-colored perch”, which is an accurate assessment of their appearance. Look for the yellow perch in the southern parts of west-central and eastern Canada and south of Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio.

Yet, it lacks sporting qualities compared to its larger cousins, the sauger and the walleye.

Thus making it difficult to catch. Hi, I’m Jon and I created Cast & Spear because I believe everyone deserves to catch fish. Sometimes perch hold at very specific depths along a weed line or drop-off. This gave them the name yellowbelly to early fishermen, and although their official name was once "callop", yellowbelly and golden perch are the two official names since the 1950's. It may not have much angling value but it provides hours of fun and pounds of delicious food. If you’re looking to catch more perch, then you’ll love these yellow perch fishing tips! Unlike a traditional bobber, a slip bobber can be adjusted to target practically any depth. Hold the perch by the head and scale it by running a scalar or a large spoon in a downward motion down its length on both sides. Since perch has smaller but tougher mouths compared to crappie, use a #6 or #8 hook with live bait. In this article, we’re going to focus on yellow perch. In other words, if you want to spear a big one, you need to look in areas where anglers are scarce. Fall is also an ideal season for perch fishing while summer is far less so. Now the spring perch fishing will be at its peak as the fish mates in shallow waters and tributaries where they will remain active 24/7. Place fillets in the skillet and cook till golden brown about 2 minutes per side. Cast & Spear occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best fishing products. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! The species is plentiful in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Erie. How To Take A Kid Fishing: 10 Tips You Need To Know, Swim Jig Fishing 101: How To Fish A Swim Jig. This is … That way you can hone in on the fish immediately for a surprise catch. While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? Baits like Beetle Spins, Panther Martin’s, and #2 Mepps Aglia’s are deadly when retrieved slowly over the tops of weeds. You can adjust the depth and offer live bait at the perfect spot for fantastic results.
One of the best perch baits you can use is soft shells such as crayfish since it is available all year round.

Since feel bites are hard to detect, you won’t feel any bites if you don’t use a sensitive rod, light line, and tiny terminal tackle. Make a V-shaped cut to remove the anus and discard remains. Run the knife under the skin all the way to the tail. Just like the panfish cranks, small inline spinners are also deadly on the trophy perch that roam the deeper weeds during the mid-summer period. As live bait is getting more popular this day and age especially with fish of this species, some anglers are trying to go back to artificial to show the fish something new. Compared to most perch that are farm-raised, the tilapia or Nile perch can be found living in lakes so make sure you have the appropriate gear. Try idling around flats to locate schools of perch with your electronics before fishing. Sometimes, you just cannot get live minnows or shiners before you go fishing. Lay the fish on the cutting board and holding your knife at an angle, slide it behind the gills till you reach the backbone.

Thread a piece of crawler, a leech, or a small minnow on a hook, place a split shot a foot above it; and cast it to a weed line, drop-off, or the bank. Known as the quintessential panfish, the yellow perch, in particular, is a sought-after species due to its excellent taste. Most large perch are in deeper water in rubble patches rather than around bigger submerged structures. In mid-summer, the temperature rises in shallow lakes which makes the fish lethargic to the point that it stops feeding. Even when the majority of the perch go out to roam the flats, there will always be some (bigger specimens in particular) that stick around the deep weeds. It’s a carnivorous fish that feeds on smaller fish, insect larvae and shellfish that lies at the bottom of lakes and streams. The body of the perch is elongated and slightly compressed.
Here is more about our approach. Drop your yellow perch rigs with the bait a foot or two about the bottom to attract schools. Insert the tip of a sharp knife into the stomach near the anus and run the blade right up to the head. Perch is a general name that spans a wide variety of fish. They are mainly found in the Murray River, along with in joining streams and lakes within the Murray Darling system in Victoria and New South Wales. Look for a large school of perch before jumping into the water with your spear using a Sounder. In order to eat them though, you’ve got to catch them first. Look for the yellow perch in the southern parts of west-central and eastern Canada, South of Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. One of the most popular panfish is the yellow perch. However, the “gold” in their Latin name could also be referring to their gold-status as a table fish – you’ll be hard pressed to find a fish in freshwater more delicious than the yellow perch. In mid-summer, perch will often school up and roam mudflats in 20-30 feet of water on many northern lakes. Wherever you catch it, the fish provides hours of fun for fishermen of all types whether you are fishing out on the water or from the docks. Set a couple rods at different depths, and once you find the fish, set them all to the productive depth. They fight very well for their size, they are fun to catch, and they taste delicious in a frying pan. Perch schools don’t stay in one place for long. A Deeper Look At The Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbait, Karl’s Fall Fishing 101 – How To Pattern Fall Bass. The two dorsal fins are separated while the tail is slightly forked. A: The fish is known for its delicious taste and texture so yes it is a great table fish. A lindy rig tipped with a leech, wiggler (hellgrammite), or blood worm is a great way to target them. If you have any strategies and tips for catching perch share in the comments below and do share this guide if you liked it. It’s often all you need to catch yourself a quick limit of the tasty buggers. Perch bite best during daylight hours especially around noon and towards evening. If those aren’t available, you can also use minnows and nightcrawlers. A: Perch are not known for their fighting capabilities. Drop your yellow perch rigs with the bait a foot or two about the bottom to attract schools.