Attracting Perch

If you live in the upper Midwest, one of the most sought after fish is the yellow perch also knows as Ringed Perch, Lake Perch, or Raccoon Perch. We are lucky to have some of the best fisheries in the country in our backyard including all of the Great Lakes, Devil’s Lake, Mille Lacs and Lake Winnebago. There are many others which can rival any of the above mentioned waters. 

Perch are typically schooling fish, which move from place to place seeking food sources. When found, they like to thrive in the bottom portion of the water column, especially at or near the bottom of the lake or river. Their natural diet consists of small fish, fish eggs, insects, crayfish, snails, leeches and worms. They are very active daytime feeders for most of the year, but tend to feed in short spurts. I would suggest moving often (every 30 minutes or so), especially during ice fishing, until you locate an active school of fish. Focusing on transition areas within the lake (rock to mud, sand to rock etc.) is a key element in locating the perch initially. Good electronics will also make this task easier.

These fish are naturally very curious. Many times in the Winnebago system, they follow the sturgeon around the lake. The sturgeons tend to stir the bottom content, exposing easy meals for the perch to feed on such as red worms.

These Fish Caught with John Doemel, with a connection made thru My Fishing Partner 

Using this bit of information to your advantage, fishermen can emulate this natural occurrence by one of two ways. Many experienced perch fisherman will pound the bottom of the lake under the boat with a stick or rod. The perch will see the commotion and be naturally attracted to the disturbance. This will expose natural food sources and your bait to the school of fish. A second version of this same method is to pull the anchor of the boat along the bottom. You can then fish the rut which has been created. Once the action slows down, repeat the procedure. 

Perch are also very attracted by color and flash. If using a slip bobber setup (or dead sticking), add a small colored bead just above the bait on the main line. The bead acts as a beacon to find the natural bait. This will increase catch rates greatly, especially in stained water. Another “old timer” trick is to add a colored plastic flag to the anchor rope. The current will wave the flag to attract the school of fish.

Equipment should be focused on light weight gear. Nothing more than a 6 or 8 pound test, and in most cases a 4-lb mono can be ideal. A light rod or ultra light is preferred to detect light bites. A stiffer composite rod can help set the hook. I prefer a Kahle offset hook while fishing perch as it has a higher hook up percentage than a standard hook. Remember when fishing perch, use the lightest weight rod, hook, sinker, and line as conditions allow.

Using these techniques can enhance your day on the water. Remember to send your pictures of trophy catches to myfishingpartner.com to be placed on the braggers’ board.