Fishing piers and docks are especially some of the best yellow perch fishing spots during warm months. If your favorite lake has one, pick a comfortable sitting spot, bait a lightly weighted hook with a small live minnow, release the bait to the bottom, then relax until a perch bites. Most times, that’s all it takes.
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Where is the best perch ice fishing?
The Basics of Jumbo Perch Ice Fishing. The Midwest is home to some of the finest jumbo perch fishing in the nation. There are many waters that have become legendary for their perch populations. Most notably Devils Lake in North Dakota, Winnebego in Minnesota and Waubay in South Dakota come to mind.
Where is the best perch fishing in the United States?
- 10 Upper Chesapeake Bay > Maryland.
- 1 Shoal Lake > Manitoba.
- 2 Devils Lake > North Dakota.
- 3 Mille Lacs > Minnesota.
- 4 Lake Waubay > South Dakota.
- 5 Mississippi River > Wisconsin.
- 6 Lake Gogebic > Michigan.
- 7 Lake St.
Where can I find big perch ice fishing?
At first ice, look for perch near or in areas still holding healthy weeds in lakes. Bays, slow-tapering drop offs near weed lines, soft-bottom zones, flats, or reefs are all good areas. In rivers, look for perch in similar areas but out of the main river current.
Where is the best ice fishing in USA?
- Devils Lake, North Dakota.
- Red Lake, Minnesota.
- Silver Lake, California.
- Birch and Quartz Lakes, Alaska.
- Lake Gogebic, Michigan.
- Lake Champlain, Vermont.
- Antero Reservoir, Colorado.
- Ice Fishing Destinations in the US: There’s Many More!
Where can I find jumbo perch?

How deep should you ice fish for perch?
Ice anglers typically target perch on flats in 20 to 35 feet of water during most of the winter season. Although, early season perch can be caught in 12 to 15 feet before the aquatic plants start to die off.
What size perch is worth keeping?
I find that 9-11 are the best keepers. 12+ the rib cage gets a lot more rugged and they’re hard to clean, and you don’t get that much more meat from a 13 than from an 11. Big ones are great for a picture, but 9-11 is ideal for eating.
What’s the biggest perch ever caught?
12-Year-Old in Idaho Takes World Record Perch Title From Massachusetts. Tia Wiese’s world record perch measured 15.5 inches long, with a 12.75-inch girth.
What depth do perch like in winter?
The typical depths are 19 to 36 feet. Shallower mudflats in 8 to 12 feet are used primarily when the vegetation is still green. If plants are dead, perch move to deeper flats.
What is the best bait for perch ice fishing?
- Northland Lures Buck Shot Spoon or Forage Minnow – In Super Glo Chub.
- Jensen Eggs/Pautzki Eggs – Orange Shrimp.
- Live Minnows.
- Super Small Tungsten Jig Heads.
- Small grubs or Mizmo Tubes.
What colors do perch like ice fishing?
In dark water (or when perch are scattered in clear water) flash lures work well. The bigger the lure, the more flash and vibration. Most flash lures for perch weigh 1/8 to 1/4 ounce. Phosphorescent or metallic lures, like gold-silver, green, and orange attract perch.
What time of day is best for ice fishing?
The best time of day to ice fish is during the first couple of hours after sunrise, and for about 2 hours both before and after sunset. These are the times when most fish are heading to their feeding grounds, and when most species are active. What is this?
Which month is the best for ice fishing in Alaska?
In Alaska’s interior, temperatures drop dramatically in late October. But you won’t notice the cold when you’re pulling champion rainbow trout from the water. Ice fishing season starts here in late November and is best through mid-January.
What size perch is considered a jumbo?
The ones that are 9″ long and about as round as a cigar are just perch. Some people go by length… over 12″ is a jumbo.
How do you attract perch ice fishing?

How do you get the jumbo perch through the ice?

What is the best time to fish for perch?
Because perch live a life of danger, they favor day over night for feeding, and are most active just after sunrise and in the late afternoon, just before sundown. The only time you’ll find perch active after dark is during the spawn, when the spring water temps rise to between 44 and 55 degrees.
What line do you use for ice fishing perch?
Chances are, that sediment will attract perch, and you’ll be pulling them onto the ice in no time! Use a leader – Especially in clear water, a leader will land more fish. We recommend 2 to 4-pound braided line with a 2 to 3-foot fluorocarbon leader. That combo is incredibly sensitive and all but invisible.
Where do perch sit in the winter?
Finding a good perch hotspot early, and even all the way throughout the ice season means finding transition areas. Areas where schools of perch will constantly be filtering in and out of, looking to spawn and looking to eat. Look for areas just outside of the deep-water basin.
What is considered a big yellow perch?
The common length for yellow perch is 7.5 inches with the longest reported length for yellow perch being 19.7 inches.
What state has the biggest perch?
Perch can generally be found in the Iowa Great Lakes as well as the state’s border rivers, according to the Iowa DNR. The world record for largest yellow perch ever caught comes from New Jersey where, in 1865, a 4.3-pound whopper was caught.
What is the record weight for a perch?
As of May 2016, the official all tackle world record recognised by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) stands at 2.9 kg (6 lb 6 oz) for a Finnish fish caught September 4, 2010. In January 2010 a perch with a weight of 3.75 kg (8 lb 4 oz) was caught in the river Meuse, Netherlands.
What is the largest crappie ever caught?
The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7.68 oz, making it not only the new Tennessee state record (previously held since 1985) but the world record.
Where can I target yellow perch?
Yellow perch hunt near the bottom more often than not, so it’s usually best to start by bait fishing on or near bottom, and then work your way up the water column. Bait can be suspended under a bobber if fish are feeding closer to the surface.