Thread: Yellow Perch in winter

Are you talking about yellow perch?

Yellow perch

Yep

OK, I changed the title of the thread so it would be clearer.

Originally Posted by Three

Hello everyone. I am looking for some knowledge on catching fish in winter. My crappie have quit on me... even though i can see them on my graph. I figured ring perch would be my best target. I wasn't sure where to post a thread about them.

Three:

I am guessing being from Virginia your winter fishing is open water rather than ice fishing. Where I live, we "get" to ice fish from November through March and when fishing for yellow perch we usually find the deeper areas of a lake or reservoir and fish these areas through the ice. Remember water is most dense at 39 degrees Fahrenheit so the water in the deeper areas of lakes and reservoirs will be the warmest water at 39 degrees F. Now, if you are fishing a reservoir that has a large stream or river feeding it, this will not always be true.

When ice fishing for yellow perch in my favorite water, I find 20-25 foot of water and fish with a small jig or one of the small spoons that has a chain or line dropper hook. I bait with a wax worm, meal worm or maggot and fish very near (within a foot) of the bottom. This method seems to work well where I ice fish. In open water during the winter you may have to find some deeper water and fish straight down so your bait is very near or on the bottom.

Just thought I would share how I fish perch in the winter. Your situation may be totally different.

ClearCreek

That really helps! Location is the major part of the puzzle. I am fishing open water with a soft bottom, no rocks. I was gonna try shrimp send worms.

Sorry for the later response to your question. But absolutely, yellow perch can be easily caught in open deep water, when the water is really cold - down into the upper 30's. You can get them by drifting slowly over the 18' - 24' basin areas with you jig close to the bottom. A cast & slow retrieve will also work, but with a light breeze, drifting allows you to cover much more areas. Yellows definitely hug the bottom under most water temps.

Here what you look for....and what you get!

Ooo they are stacked! Thanks for the reply!