Yellow Perch

The yellow perch, unlike the so-called white perch, Morone americana, is a true perch, not a bass.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A YELLOW PERCH

Its most striking characteristic is its golden yellow body with 6-8 dark fingers or bands which extend from the back towards the belly. Although the average size caught by anglers is 4-12 oz. (0.1-0.34 kg) it provides fast action and can be caught all year long. It will devour almost any natural bait and many types of artificials, including flies, and is an active feeder even in the winter when it is caught while ice fishing.

 

WHERE TO CATCH YELLOW PERCH

The yellow perch is widespread species in the northern United States and in Canada. Although it occurs in nearly every U.S. state today, due to stocking, it is sparsely distributed in the South and through most of the West and Midwest. It blankets the northern U.S.A. and Canada, except British Columbia and the northern territories. In the east it ranges from Nova Scotia to the Santee River drainage, South Carolina and west through the Great Lakes to the edge of British Columbia and into Washington. A narrow contingent extends north through Great Slave Lake almost to Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

 

CLIFFS AND STEEP SHORE BANKS     GRADUAL SHORES

INLETS AND OUTLETS                       ISLANDS OR SAND BARS

OPEN WATER                                    PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS

ROCKS                                               SPRING HOLES

WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES               FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS

HOLES                                                INSIDE TURNS AND COVES

LILY PADS                                          OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES

POINTS AND BREAK LINES               SHORELINE SHALLOWS

SUNKEN OBJECTS                             FRESHWATER WEED BEDS

HOW TO CATCH YELLOW PERCH

The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

DRIFT FISHING     TROLLING    FLY FISHING   STILL FISHING

YELLOW PERCH LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

FLIES      JIGS     MINNOWS    SPINNER BAITS    INSECTS 

LEECHES   PLUGS     SPOONS