Fishing for perch is a great hobby, but it can be hard to get started. Perch fishing is one of the most popular freshwater sports in North America. It’s easy to see why – perch are fun and delicious fish that anyone can catch!
But if you’re just getting started with this exciting sport, it can seem overwhelming at first glance. Where do you start? What equipment should I buy? How do I know what bait will work best? We’ve got all the answers right here!
In this guide, we walk you through everything you need to know about catching your fresh perch, from finding a good spot on the lake.
Choosing your tackle box wisely, picking out some great lures and baits (and avoiding the bad ones), tying up some effective rigs and even cooking up those tasty fish after they’re caught.
If there’s anything else we didn’t cover in our 15 tips below, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment at the end of this article. We’ll do our best to assist you out. Happy perch fishing!
Here are 15 things you should know about Perch Fishing
1. When is perch fishing season?
For the first time since 2001, perch fishing will be open during July, where attendees can catch and release 15 fish a day. Yellow perch fishing Starting in 2015, yellow perch fishing will close from May 1 to June 15. However, There is more spawning stock available for anglers later on in July. If you want to catch perch during the season, make sure you find out when the season will open where you are fishing, and then plan your trip with enough lead time to get there before the season starts.
2. What is the best time to fish for perch?
Perch fishing usually bests from the early morning or evening hours throughout spring and summer before transitioning into autumn. Both mornings and evenings provide excellent opportunities. In natural lakes, however, typically, it’s only worth your time between late summers until late fall, which makes sense because perches go through phase changes around that time.
3. What time of year do perch spawn?
Yellow perch spawn between February and July in the Northern hemisphere from August to October for Southern hemispheres. Scientists study these fascinating creatures who typically do so by looking through their stomachs after catching them because it is difficult otherwise due to how elusive they tend to be. You might find one if you’re lucky enough during the spawning season.
4. Where is the best perch fishing?
Shore or dock fishing are great places to catch perch. They like the shelter of man-made objects and can usually be found near overhanging trees or other covers. If you’re close to shore, look for areas with a steep drop-off into deep water so you’ll have easier access!
If you’re not near a dock, look for tree stumps or large rocks where perch would like to hide. Just make sure if you choose to fish from the shore that your gear is safe from rangers and high tide!
5. What to use for perch fishing
The best bait for catching perch is a worm. You can use worms with a hook and sinker or the more versatile jig head/worm combo. Perch are most often seen in early spring when they’re spawning, but you’ll also find them along weed beds year-round, making it easy to catch one wherever there’s an accessible body of water nearby!
6. What is the best fishing line for perch?
When looking for the best fishing line, a 6-pound monofilament is often suggested. It’s a great option that many anglers already have spooled onto their reels. If you’re interested in other weights of fishing lines like 4 or 8 pounds, though, those can be options as well if they are available on your reel!
7. What size hook is best for perch?
Perch fishing requires an appropriate hook. They can range from size 4 to 8, and perch anglers generally prefer the larger ones because they are easier to remove and less likely to be swallowed by fish. If possible, try to buy a limited number of hooks and paint them bright colors to increase visibility.
8. What is the best bait for fishing perch?
Perch fishing with worms tends to be the best option, but other baits such as maggots, prawns, and even lobworms can also work. You could try feeding the perch by spreading some larvae over where you intend to fish or simply giving them a taste for it before! you go. You can also purchase a maggot feeder to ensure your bait stays fresh and tasty for hungry perch!
9. What size lures for perch?
Perch can be found in clear, clean lakes. To catch more fish, it is recommended to use lures smaller than 2 or 3 inches, and for larger fish like walleye, you should aim for lures of 4-6 inches. Lure color doesn’t seem to matter much when fishing for perch.
10. What color lures do perch like?
When fishing for perch, consider the color of your lure. Perch are usually attracted to bright colors like white and chartreuse, but they also eat more natural browns and greens that imitate crayfish or other prey.
11. What depth is best for perch fishing?
Perch are fish that like to hang out in shallow lakes during the summer. They typically stay near submerged islands, rocky shoals, and points of land where they can be found at depths around 15-20 feet or 4.5-6 meters deep. If you’re trying to catch a perch this way, then finding soft mud for them may help your chances as well!!
12. Where do perch like to hang out?
Perch often like to hang out near the bottom of body water. They scour for food, and if they find any sources that they’re able to feed on – especially at or close to the lake/river bed – they will do so there (as opposed to anywhere else in their environment! ). This is one way to find good spots for perch because it usually makes a relatively reliable “home” that you can fish out.
13. What is perch’s favorite food?
Yellow perch are bottom feeders that have a slow and deliberate bite. The adults enjoy eating minnows and other types of fish, such as wiggle worms (earthworms) or even insects like mealworm larvae. However, hungry yellow perches certainly don’t discriminate when it comes to food—they will munch down on plant plankton too!
14. Can you catch perch in winter?
Although white perch are known to be biting throughout winter, it can become difficult for us anglers (fishermen) because their favorite bait, bloodworms, and grass shrimp, can get scarce. However, if you can still catch a white perch, then do so because their flesh is always considered “sweet” even when they’re not in peak season.
15. What is the lifespan of a perch?
A yellow perch can live for 13 years and migrates from brackish water to fresh water in the spring before returning to saltier waters during fall. Females mature between 2-4 years old, while males mature about one year earlier than females.
White perch are semi-anadromous: they migrate from brackish water (contains more of a mixture of fresh river/saltwater) to freshwater (has mostly just pure new river or lake) to spawn in the spring; moving back up towards deeper salty regions for later seasons like winter because it is too cold to swim above that point by then.
Recommended perch fishing kits
- 【Various Fishing Tackle Kit】- PLUSINNO 253pcs fishing gear...
- 【Compact & Organized Tackle Box】- The box is made of...
- 【Premium Anti-Corrosion Fishing Kit】- All fishing equipment...
- 【Widely Usage Fishing Set】- Abundant accessories in the...
- FISHING TACKLE KIT - Fishing gear has the fundemental various...
- ALL IN ONE - Fishing tackle kit contains 8 bobbers for fishing,...
- COMMON & POPULAR - Fishing hooks and weights are the most common...
- EASY USE - Fishing tackle box only 6.77" x 3.66" x 1.02", tackle...
- Various Fishing Accessories- TOPFORT 187 pcs fishing tackles set...
- Anti-Corrosion Stainless Steel- All Fishing Accessories made of...
- Storage capacity-Fishing tackle case comes with a selector side...
- Easy to carry-The fishing tackle is equipped with a compact box...
- E.C. FRESH WATER TACKLE KIT
- E.C. FRESH WATER TACKLE KIT
- E.C. FRESH WATER TACKLE KIT
- E.C. FRESH WATER TACKLE KIT
- INSIDE EACH MTB PRO MULTI-SPECIES BOX: Each Mystery Tackle Box...
- EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS: Designed for freshwater bass, panfish and...
- EXPERT CONTENT: Tips, tricks, and instructions to learn new...
- IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: We know a thing or two about packing a box...
- ATTRACTIVE COLOR ICE FISHING LURES： The jig head features...
- SHARP & STURDY ICE FISHING KITS： All these ice fishing...
- PERFECT ICE FISHING GEAR ASSORTMENT: Wonderful assortment of 5...
- WIDE RANGE OF TARGET FISH These colorful, vivid, and lifelike...
- 50PCS & 5 SHAPE STYLES: The 50PCS ice fishing jigs set cointains...
- EFFICIENT ICE FISHING JIGS: Highly simulated ice fishing lures...
- MADE OF PREMIUM MATERIALS: All these ice fishing lures made of...
- WIDE RANGE OF TARGET FISH: These ice fishing perch jigs are...
- 【All-in-One Pack】- This fishing accessories kit has 263...
- 【Premium Material】-This fishing tackle kit is crafted from...
- 【Easy to Carry around】-PLUSINNO fishing gear comes with a...
- 【Large Organized Tackle Box】- The PLUSINNO fishing tackle set...
- 【Premium Fishing Tackle Kit】- TCMBY high-quality freshwater...
- 【Variety of Lures Combination】- The 327 pieces fishing lure...
- 【High Quality Material】- The lifelike design Minnow, Popper,...
- 【Easy to Carry Around】- The compact fishing tackle kit with a...
- 【FISHING LURE ACCESSORIES】This 180pcs fishing lures tackle...
- 【BS JIG SPINNER】Smaller than a spinner bait, has a wire frame...
- 【ATTRACTIVE SPINNER】The easy spin design allows the blade to...
- 【RELIABLE & DURABLE】All the fishing lures tackle accessories...
Final Thoughts
We’re so excited you’ve decided to give perch fishing a try! It’s one of the perfect freshwater fish for beginners. Whether you need help choosing equipment, finding your spot, or even cooking up that fresh catch – we have all the answers right here in this guide just for you. So leave us a comment and let us know what other tips would be helpful if you’re new to catching perch!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article! If there’s anything else you’d like to know or have feedback on, let us know in the comments section below. Have fun and happy fishing!
You might also like:
