Springtime is Perch Time!

A quick glance at just about any good fish fry menu here in Wisconsin is bound to feature at least one dish showcasing one of the more popular and tasty specimens to frequent Badger-state waterways – the yellow perch. With the majority of ice off here in North-Central Wisconsin and water temperatures on the rise, now is a great time to target numbers of this scrappy finned opponent.
Favoring cooler water temperatures, yellow perch, especially the largest specimens, typically frequent deep water. While anglers can certainly target and effectively catch perch from the depths, one of the prime periods on the perch fisherman’s calendar is the spring spawn – a timeframe finding large numbers of quality fish readily accessible in the shallows. Yellow perch spawning normally occurs shortly after ice-out in April or early May at water temperatures of 45 - 52º F, closely following that of walleyes and often coinciding with that of suckers.

Springtime perch fishing needn’t be a complicated affair. A 7’ or 8’ light action St. Croix Panfish Series Spinning rod is a veritable magic wand for working the shallows in search of perch; balanced with a quality reel spooled with 4 or 6 pound Sufix monofilament, this outfit will handle a variety of panfish applications. A Plano Hook and Sinker StowAway Organizer containing panfish-sized terminal tackle and a 3700 box filled with floats, spinners, jigs and panfish plastics will be more than enough to get you started.

While searching bays, coves and shorelines for perch hang-outs, casting a size 0 or 1 Mepps Comet Mino helps to eliminate dead water quickly. Using a firetiger or gold blade in stained water and a silver or red/white blade in clear water, reel the lure just fast enough to keep it right off the bottom. A 1/32 or 1/16 ounce Mister Twister jighead and #0 spinner form tipped with a VIE Shiner or 2” Tri-Alive Hot Curly Tail is another solid option for covering water.

Once numbers of fish have been located or when looking to fish a spot more thoroughly, a 1/32 or 1/16 ounce Lightnin’ Bug tipped with a Mister Twister Nymph or small minnow will do the trick. Whether using live bait under a float or artificial lures, utilizing fish attractant such as Baitmate’s Classic Ultra Crappie and Panfish scent not only eliminates undesirable odors from your hands, but adds an extra dimension to your offering thus tipping the odds further in your favor.

Regardless of your age, perch, especially jumbos, can make for a thrilling springtime afternoon. Delectable on the table and scrappy fighters on the end of a line, don’t miss out on one of the joys of April. I’ll see you on the water…

Tight lines,