How To Catch Yellow Perch

Do you want to learn how to catch yellow perch? Yellow perch is a favorite of many anglers as they are abundant, quick to bite and taste good. Yellow perch is mostly found in the northern United States and Canada.

Yellow Perch is a schooling fish and this makes it easy for beginners as well as more experienced anglers to catch yellow perch. In this article, we discuss the fish methods for yellow perch, the baits, lures, and tackle, where you can easily find them, and more.

How To Identify Yellow Perch

Yellow perch is easy to identify as it features about 6 to 9 dark, vertical markings on its yellow-colored body. The dark, and vertical markings extend from its back down to its bottom flanks. Yellow perch is a small-sized fish although you may catch a few of the large ones. It usually weighs 4 to 12 ounces.

Where Can You Find Yellow Perch

Yellow perch like the bottom where they prey on bait. But here’s the kicker: they like aquatic vegetation so if you are fishing for yellow perch, look for aquatic vegetation and send your bait or lure to the bottom or just above the bottom and work your way up the water column. However, if you see a school of yellow fish closer to the surface on your fish finder, you can go after them.

Additionally, yellow perch can be found in warm and cold water. They are very active in cold water. You can find yellow perch in lakes, ponds, and streams.

Yellow Perch Fishing Setup

Light tackle is the popular choice for yellow perch and an ultralight spinning or spin cast combo spooled with 2-4 lb mono will work for casting baits or lures or jig fishing. For trolling or drift-fishing, use a firmer 6 to 6-1/2-foot rod with a medium to fast tip.

Additionally, yellow perch are known for stealing bait, therefore a fast action tip will help you detect faint bites. Some anglers prefer fly rods when fishing for yellow perch.

1. Hooks

Hooks with size ranging from 4 to 8 works well for perch fishing although some anglers prefer larger-sized hooks since it is harder for them to be swallowed and are easier to remove.

2. Sinkers

Yellow perch likes to prey for baitfish at the bottom and light split-shot and bell sinkers work well at the bottom.

3. Line

Monofilament lines work well for yellow perch. A 4 to 8-pound test line will work for trolling or drift-fishing yellow perch. When casting or still-fishing, a 4 to 6-pound test line or a 2 pound-test line will get the job done.

4. Bobbers

Bobbers will make it easier when fishing for perch as they will keep the bait in the right position when fishing around aquatic vegetation or when shore or dock fishing.

5. Jig Heads

For yellow perch jigs, round 1/16 ounce jigs will work although heavier and lighter jigs are preferable in some situations.

How To Catch Yellow Perch

Yellow perch is a favorite for many anglers as they are easy to catch, can be found all year, is a schooling fish, and taste great. There are many different fishing methods that can be used to catch yellow perch.

1. Trolling

Yellow perch can be caught trolling. Trolling is a fishing method in which you attach your bait or lure to the fishing rod and slowly move the boat. As it moves over the water, it will attract fish and when you get a bite, you take control of the rod and reel it in. Trolling is an effective fishing method as it allows you to cover a lot of water in a short period of time.

2. Vertical Jigging

Vertical jigging is another fishing method in which you sit in one place and drop your line into the water. When it is close or touches the bottom, you vertically pull on the line to create a vertical motion with the bait or lure. This motion will get the attention of yellow perch and other fish that may bite the bait.

3. Bait Casting

Bait casting is another fishing method that can be used for yellow perch fishing. When bait casting, you attach your bait to the line and cast it into the water. Slowly reel it and when you detect a bite, you quickly reel in the catch. Bait casting is one of the popular fishing methods used by beginners and experienced anglers.

4. Drift Fishing

Drift fishing is also an effective fishing method used for yellow perch fishing. Drift fishing is similar to trolling and you drift your bait as you move in a boat. It relies on the current or wind to move the boat while trolling uses the boat’s motor to slowly move over the water. Drift fishing, like trolling, allows you to cover a lot of water in a short period of time.

5. Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is another fishing method that can be used for yellow perch fishing. Fly fishing requires more skills and is often used by experienced anglers to catch fish. However, you need to get the experience and the only way is to fly fish. Therefore, it is not a bad idea to fly fish as often as possible to hone your fly fishing skills. Fly fishing involves casting and retrieving the fly.

6. Still Fishing

Still fishing is another fishing method that can be used by beginners and experienced anglers to catch yellow perch. When still fishing, you just drop the line and wait until you get a bite. Still fishing is similar to vertical jigging since you remain at one spot and wait for the fish to bite. it can be done at the dock or pier.

Best Bait For Yellow Perch

1. Minnows

Minnows are one of the baits that anglers use when fishing for yellow perch. Anglers use minnows when implementing most fishing methods like trolling, drifting, casting, and still fishing.

2. Leeches

Leeches are a good bait for perch and anglers use them to catch perch. Always fish leeches slowly, matching their natural swimming pace as much as possible. This matching will get the attention of perch and attract them to the bait.

3. Worms

Yellow perch likes worms and nightcrawlers and red worms are some of the worms that can be used when fishing for yellow perch.

4. Larvae

Larvae such as wax worms and maggots are excellent baits for fishing yellow perch. Most anglers add larvae to a small jig head and use them when ice fishing.

5. Insects

Insects like crickets are also used by anglers when fishing for yellow perch.

6. Crayfish

Crayfish is also a good bait for yellow perch and is used by anglers. Most large yellow perch will go for crayfish.

Best Lures For Yellow Perch

1. Spoons

Spoons are an excellent lure for catching perch. Small spoons are more effective sometimes and jigging spoons work well when deep-water fishing.

2. Spinners

Spinners are used by anglers when fishing for yellow perch. When perch is feeding away from the bottom, or when they are in shallow water, spinners can be very effective.

3. Crankbaits

Crankbaits are also effective lures for attracting and catching perch. Crankbaits allow you to cover a lot of water quickly when you are searching for yellow fish.

4. Jigs

Jigs are widely used for yellow perch fishing. There are many different types of jigs that are used for attracting and catching perch.

How To Catch Yellow Perch In Winter

Fishing for yellow perch in the winter is not challenging as they tend to be very active in cold water and also bite often. When fishing in the winter, you will have to search for them, but once you locate a school, its game on. Yellow perch likes to move away from the bottom in winter than during other seasons.

How To Catch Yellow Perch From Shore

You can fish for perch from the shore when the water temperature is warm and they come into shallow waters. Casting and retrieving is one popular method that is used by anglers when fishing for yellow perch from the shore.

How To Catch Yellow Perch In Spring

During spring, perch will move to water with temperatures between 45 to 52 degrees to spawn. They spawn from early February to late June. The large perchs gather in shallow water during spring and that is a great time to go perch fishing.

How To Catch Yellow Perch In Summer

During the summer, large perch will move to deeper water when summer begins. The small perch, however, can be found year-round in shallow water.

How To Catch Yellow Perch In Fall

Yellow perch will be active and in search of food during the fall. It can be more challenging for anglers as the hardest aspect will be locating them. However, they can often be found in deep, rocky habitats.

How To Catch Yellow Perch Ice Fishing

Yellow perch is very active in cold water and this makes it easy for anglers. They school together and bite in cold water which helps anglers catch them in large numbers.

Jigging spoons and teardrop jigs with wax worms or spikes will almost always result in a bite. You can use an ultralight spinning rod spooled with a 4-pound line.

The Bottom Line

Yellow perch is a favorite of many anglers as it is easy to catch, abundant, and tasty. Yellow perch is a schooling fish that feed all year and this makes it an easy target. It is also a good fish for beginners as well as experienced anglers to target.

In this article, we discussed how to catch yellow perch, the fishing methods, the baits, and lures, as well as the fishing setup. You can get more perch fishing tips to catch more perch from reading this article. You can also read how to catch surfperch, crappie fishing tips, and bluegill fishing tips.