Then it becomes pivotal to look for them near standing vegetation, such as reeds and bulrushes, that occasionally protrude through the ice. After ice-out, perch will spawn there and the females will attach their eggs to these weeds. Above all, your search for perch should begin and end near the bottom.
What is the best depth to catch perch?
The best spots for big yellow perch may be inshore near shallow breaks or in water as deep as 30ft / 9m, but most gather near underwater structures such as rocks, weed beds or channels.
What time of year is best for perch fishing?
Perch fishing is usually best in the early morning or evening hours during late spring and early summer and late afternoon or evening in late summer. In autumn, both morning and late afternoon-evening provide excellent fishing. In the natural lakes, the best fishing is usually from late summer until late fall.
What’s the best bait for perch?
Perch fishing with worms tends to produce the best results, but maggots, prawns and lobworms are also amongst the best bait for catching perch. You can also try feeding the perch, spreading some maggots over the area you intend to fish.
How deep should you ice fish for perch?
Ice anglers typically target perch on flats in 20 to 35 feet of water during most of the winter season. Although, early season perch can be caught in 12 to 15 feet before the aquatic plants start to die off.
Where do you find perch under ice?
Winter Locations to Fish Perch
At first ice, look for perch near or in areas still holding healthy weeds in lakes. Bays, slow-tapering drop offs near weed lines, soft-bottom zones, flats, or reefs are all good areas. In rivers, look for perch in similar areas but out of the main river current.
What time do perch bite ice fishing?
For most of the year, the early morning and late afternoon are the best times to catch perch in good numbers. During the winter, especially when ice fishing, I would say mid-to-late afternoon until sunset is the best.
What colors do perch like?
Perch typically respond well to bright colors like white and chartreuse, but they may also bite more natural brown and green tones that imitate crayfish and other prey.
Where do perch go after spawn?
After spawning, perch will move back out in the lake and begin schooling. The locations in which this occurs can vary widely, depending on the individual lake.
Where do perch like to spawn?
Yellow perch spawning occurs during the spring as water temperatures rise along the shorelines. Yellow perch eggs are deposited in long ribbons along submerged vegetation, dead branches and trees. When female yellow perch expel their eggs, groups of male yellow perch will follow the females and fertilize their eggs.
What depth do perch like in winter?
19 to 36 feet
The typical depths are 19 to 36 feet. Shallower mudflats in 8 to 12 feet are used primarily when the vegetation is still green. If plants are dead, perch move to deeper flats.
What temperature water do perch spawn in?
roughly 46 to 52 degrees
Biologically, the optimum water temperature for the yellow perch spawn runs from roughly 46 to 52 degrees, and the fish make short work of their responsibilities and quickly flee the creek heads.
What temperatures do perch spawn at?
Yellow perch typically reach sexual maturity in 2–3 years for males and 3–4 years for females. They are iteroparous, spawning annually in the spring when water temperatures are between 2.0 and 18.6 °C (35.6 and 65.5 °F). Spawning is communal and typically occurs at night.
How do you catch big perch?
The best chance for catching a real monster-perch is according to me by fishing these ledges around the underwater structure. Favorites baits when I fish deeper and cast out from the ledge is for example a Prorex Metal Vibe that I jig up and down just like when you use a small rubber jig.
What size hooks for perch fishing?
Use a smaller #6 or #4 for 1-2″ minnows and small leeches to target Perch and Crappie. Use the medium size #4 & #2 on larger 3-4″ minnows and jumbo leeches for Walleye. Lastly, the 1/0 is great with larger 4-6″ minnows used to target Pike and Bass.
What size perch is a keeper?
Keepers start at 8″, Smaller ones have been in the pail before. I prefer them in the 8 – 10 inch range for eating, but will gladly keep some of the slabs.
What colors do perch like ice fishing?
In dark water (or when perch are scattered in clear water) flash lures work well. The bigger the lure, the more flash and vibration. Most flash lures for perch weigh 1/8 to 1/4 ounce. Phosphorescent or metallic lures, like gold-silver, green, and orange attract perch.
Where is the best perch fishing?
Best Perch Locations
- 10 Upper Chesapeake Bay > Maryland.
- 1 Shoal Lake > Manitoba.
- 2 Devils Lake > North Dakota.
- 3 Mille Lacs > Minnesota.
- 4 Lake Waubay > South Dakota.
- 5 Mississippi River > Wisconsin.
- 6 Lake Gogebic > Michigan.
- 7 Lake St.
How do you find fish under the ice?
How to Find Ice Fishing Spots
- Use a GPS or charts to find gradual drop-offs.
- Drill holes in the ice.
- Hang your ice transducer in the water (if you have one)
- Setup ice fishing tip-ups and/or start jigging.
- If you don’t catch fish, move until you find them!
How do you get finicky perch to bite?
HOW DO YOU GET FINICKY PERCH TO BITE? To catch them, it’s as simple as lure them over, offer something that’s delicious and catch them. Luring them over can be done with a spoon or something that’s going to displace water or make noise.
What month is best for ice fishing?
However, those who enjoy ice-fishing know that some of the very best action of the year can take place in late season. Some of my best ice-fishing down through the years has been in late February and early to mid March depending on the area being fished.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.