YELLOW PERCH: A POPULAR YEAR-ROUND FEEDING MACHINE

This popular fish is a member of the group of fish that is lumped into the generic family known as panfish. Despite the fact that the yellow perch can hardly be called a fighter, it is one of the most popular fish caught throughout the country. It’s popularity remains high because it is plentiful, easy to catch and feeds heavily throughout the year. The yellow perch is also a favorite table fare.

Originally, the yellow perch was found throughout eastern and central Canada and into the United States. However, stocking efforts have placed the yellow perch in many other locations well into the deep south. The introduction of yellow perch into additional waters can sometimes become a mixed blessing. The perch provides anglers with plenty of action, is an active feeder and is very prolific. It feeds on a wide assortment of food with include small minnows. Because it feeds on live forage, it competes with other species of fish. It’s fast reproduction can lead quickly to overpopulation with the results being a body of water that contains a vast number of stunted fish.

However, in the proper habitat where they remain in balance, the yellow perch grow to good size A good example of perch in proper balance is the Great Lakes where yellow perch are found in good numbers with one and two pound fish are common. Three and four pound specimens have been caught and create much excitement within the angling community.

The yellow perch belongs to the same family as the sauger and walleye and is generally found in the same waters. The yellow perch can be found in a wide spectrum of waters including shallow, weedy lakes, rocky lakes with few weeds, and lakes with gravel and sandy bottoms. The are found in large bodies of water as well as small mill ponds.

The coloration of the yellow perch is yellow to bronze to yellow-green with black vertical stripes. It is doubtful that the yellow perch will be confused with any other species of fresh water species.

ANGLING TECHNIQUES

Probably 99% of the yellow perch that are caught are taken by still fishing. Small minnows, either dead or alive are a preferred bait among the vast majority of perch enthusiasts. Worms are also a productive bait as well as "wigglers", the larvae of certain mayflies. There is nothing difficult or secret about bait fishing for perch. As a rule, the old line perch specialist will set up a rig consisting of a bell sinker on the bottom and two dropper hooks spaced above it. The technique used calls for the sinker to be positioned just touching the bottom and the droppers to be positioned between one and two feet off the bottom. Although this technique works quite well, young anglers prefer fishing with a float and worm. The depth of presentation will vary and experimentation is necessary to find the exact level of fish. The bite, as a rule is not especially strong and the fight is not described as "tackle bustin" but depending on the rig used it is not uncommon to take two fish at a time. Yellow perch travel on tight schools and fish of about the same size will be found in the same school.

Yellow perch can be caught on artificial lures. They are susceptible to spinner, fly combinations, small spinners, small wobbler spoons and on many occasions will go after small jigs, rigged with a bait strip or not. Wet flies are generally better than dry flies but bait fishing is so fast, the need to use artificials in order to entice somewhat laid back fish is not necessary.

Many anglers feel that the best time of the year to catch perch is during the spring when they are spawning. Spawning activity takes place during April in most areas. Spawning fish enter small streams, congregate around channels, enter bays and creeks and smaller feeder streams of the larger lakes. Despite this very active time of the year, die hard perch fishermen enjoy pursuing the perch through the ice. They feel that the largest fish of the season are caught towards the end of the ice season and will strongly argue that this is the best time of the year to catch perch as their quality for table fare is unbeatable.

The yellow perch gets little respite from anglers throughout the year. Very few places have a closed season on perch because perch are so abundant. Because they feed just as heavily during the winter as during other times of the year, they are frequently targeted by ice fishermen. During the winter months, fishermen will bait tip-ups with shiners or minnows bur many fishermen choose to jig and the results are quite impressive. The small Swedish Pimples and Kastmasters are among the local favorites. Other ice fishing jigs such as the tear drop jigs are also quite effective. Sometimes a meal worm or perch eye is added to the jig and helps to increase it’s effectiveness.

The perch is looked down upon by some fishermen but they have to admit that chances are good that this was the fish that introduced then to the sport of fishing that they love so much. The yellow perch is the perfect fish to go after when young anglers start fishing. The short attention span of the kids is not a hindrance as the action is generally fast and keeps their interest in fishing peaked.