DEC: Tips for yellow perch ice fishing

Yellow perch are fun to catch and are one of the tastiest freshwater fish. (Photo courtesy of New York State DEC)

Yellow perch are a common panfish species in New York, so chances are they can be found in local lakes and ponds, according to a press release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Anglers can fish for them year-round, but they’re especially popular during ice fishing season. Not only are they fun to catch, they are also one of the tastiest freshwater fish.

Yellow perch can be found at a range of depths, from shallow weed beds less than 10 feet deep to flats in 40 feet of water.

Tip-ups, or tip-downs, baited with small minnows or jigging with small spoons or jigs tipped with spikes or perch eyes work well to catch them. Perch usually are found close to the bottom, so fish within a foot or less from the bottom.

Here are some tips for catching yellow perch:

• When jigging for yellow perch, try “pounding” the jig into the bottom. This is basically letting the jig hit the bottom on occasion, causing little plumes of bottom sediment. This often attracts perch, as it imitates their feeding on red worms or other bottom dwelling creatures.

• Tip-downs seem to be more effective at hooking perch than tip-ups. It can be easier to detect light bites, and there’s less resistance when they take the bait.

• Using two hooks baited with small minnows on tip-downs or tip-ups will often catch two yellow perch at the same time.

• When there are multiple perch at or near the bottom, slowly working the jig upward can separate fish from the bottom and trigger a more aggressive bite.

• Try using medium-sized minnows on tip-ups, as they’re selective for bigger perch.