How To Catch Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch (winter)

The yellow perch is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America. These colorful panfish are recognized by an alternating pattern of light and dark vertical bands.

The best fishing for yellow perch usually occurs during spring spawning runs. Again in fall, fishing often improves as perch move down creeks and into deeper habitats. During the winter, yellow perch are caught by ice fishing.

Spring Spawning Runs

Anglers cite a number of fishing tips and techniques that are useful when fishing for yellow perch during springtime spawning runs:

- check local and regional fishing reports frequently

- monitor weather forecasts and water flow information before planning fishing trips

- try a variety of baits, including nightcrawlers, minnows, and other baits

- try using small circle hooks with live baits

- combine jigs with live minnows when fish are deep

- keep a selection of small jigs from 1/32 to 1/4 oz

- try bright lure colors in murky water and more natural shades in clear conditions

- keep only fish that are needed for the table and release undersized fish

Summer Fishing Techniques

During the warm months, yellow perch are usually found in cooler water. Productive areas include deep holes in river bends, channel edges, and other areas where water temperatures are likely to be low.

In some areas, stream outflows attract yellow perch in summer. Productive outflows tend to contain clear, moving water which is oxygenated. Stream outflows are found along woodland creeks, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

When yellow perch are in deep areas, anglers often use jig-live minnow combinations, small soft plastic worms, jigging spoons, or other offerings.

Ice Fishing Tips - Techniques

These tips apply to ice fishing for yellow perch:

- always make safety a priority, never venture out when ice conditions are unsafe

- use small baits or lures

- experiment with multiple setups and be alert if a pattern develops

- consider scouting potential areas with an underwater video camera when water conditions are clear

Lake Elmore Vermont Free Ice Fishing Day and Festival

Lake Elmore State Park Free Ice Fishing Day
January 25, 2020
Lake Elmore State Park
Lake Elmore, Vermont

Lake Elmore State Park in Vermont will host a "Free Ice Fishing Day" on January 25, 2020 (all day).

Often called "The Beauty Spot of Vermont," the Town of Lake Elmore is a popular destination for outdoor explorers.

Lake Elmore (219 acres) lies northwest of the town. The lake empties into the Lamoille River through Pond Brook. Elmore Mountain (2,608 feet) rises almost from the shore of lake.

The park had its beginning in 1936 when the town of Elmore and local citizens made a gift of 30 acres on Lake Elmore to the state of Vermont. Today, with more than 700 acres, Elmore State Park has become a popular, developed recreation facility.

The lake is home to yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bullhead, and panfish.

In addition to fishing, Lake Elmore State Park is a popular destination for camping, swimming, hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other outdoor recreation.

New Hampshire Winter Free Fishing Day 2019

Saturday, January 19, 2019 is this year's New Hampshire winter free fishing day. The one day event allows anglers to fish without a license and try ice fishing in New Hampshire.

This annual winter event takes place on the third Saturday in January each year.

Note that all other regulations must be followed. Learn more about fishing rules by reading the NH Freshwater Fishing or Saltwater Fishing digests at www.fishnh.com/fishing/publications.html.

Persons participating in a fishing tournament must still hold a license, even on free fishing day.

Another New Hampshire free fishing day is held annually on the first Saturday in June.

Find more information about fishing in New Hampshire at www.fishnh.com.

source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

Vermont Fly Fishing Show

Vermont Fly Fishing Show

Sep 11-12, 2015 (All Day)

The Fly Rod Shop

Rte 100

Stowe, VT

The 2015 Vermont Fly Fishing Show will include fly tying demos, casting clinics, fly fishing techniques presentations, and other exhibits.

Vermont Ice Fishing Festival

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is encouraging anglers in Vermont to attend an upcoming free fishing day ice fishing festival. The event will be held January 25 at the Larrabee Point Fishing Access Area on Lake Champlain in Shoreham.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife staff and experienced volunteer ice fishing enthusiasts will be there from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. to help everyone, young and old, learn how to enjoy this unique and popular type of fishing.

For more information, contact Nicole Corrao by calling 802-318-1347 or Nicole.Corrao@state.vt.us.

source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

North Carolina Wounded Warrior Fly-fishing Clinics

Starting Jan. 8, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct fly-fishing clinics for soldiers from Fort Bragg’s Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion.

The free clinics, which are open only to soldiers and their families, will be held on the second Wednesday of each month through March. 

For more information, visit: http://www.ncwildlife.org/fishing

source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Minnesota Fishing Piers

Anglers in Minnesota now have access to 20 new and improved fishing piers across the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Minnesota DNR replaced 15 fishing piers and installed five new ones in 2011, paid for with funding from the Parks and Trails Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

New fishing piers are operational at Grant Lake (Beltrami County), Big Lake (Carlton County), Sylvan Bay on the Mississippi River (Itasca County), Lake Shetek at Lake Shetek State Park (in Murray County) and Albert Lea Lake at Myre-Big Island State Park (Freeborn County).

The new Legacy-funded fishing piers, ranging from 34 to 84 feet long, are all wheelchair accessible.

The DNR also replaced fishing piers at:

Long Lake (Otter Tail County), Fish Hook River (Hubbard County), Straight Lake (Becker County), Spirit Lake (Wadena County), Hill Lake (Aitkin County),Tilson Bay on Rainy Lake (Koochiching County), Lake Bennett and Silver Lake (Ramsey County), Buffalo Lake (Wright County), Middle Spunk Lake (Stearns County), Lake Charlotte (Todd County), Lake Andrew in Sibley State Park (Kandiyohi County), Madison Lake (Blue Earth County) and Swan Lake (McLeod County).

Work to replace the fishing pier at Boy Scout Landing on the St. Louis River (St. Louis County) was underway as of May.
  
According to Nancy Stewart, fishing pier coordinator for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division: "Fishing piers provide a safe and convenient place to fish, instead of from bridges or steep embankments or fragile shoreland areas".

"They can be the heart of a community or a main component of a state, county or city park, and are often used to facilitate fishing clinics that help introduce new participants to fishing".

Since the Minnesota fishing pier grant program was created in 1984, DNR has provided more than 350 fishing piers, platforms or shore-fishing sites statewide, with one-third of them in the Twin Cities metro area. The overall goal of the program is to improve fishing opportunities, especially to meet the needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and those without a boat.

Anglers can locate a nearby fishing pier online or by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources