Shore fishing for yellow perch provides anglers with a thrilling experience. However, as an angler, before you begin fishing for this most sort after game fish, it is paramount you have a more in-depth knowledge of the fish species you are actually after.

The yellow perch, Perca Flavescent, is named for its unique yellow or golden appearance, broken by dark vertical decoration. Those tiger decorations are more conspicuous during the spawn in males, and immature perch may not have them whatsoever.

Shore Fishing for Yellow Perch – Tips for Each Season

Not a specifically big fish, it is still a coveted specie for its outstanding taste, and it has received the title “The ultimate panfish” to mirror that. However, yellow perch aren’t just fun to consume, there are several committed perch anglers who can certify to how much fun they are to capture, as well.

In this article, you will learn everything you need know about fishing for yellow perch.

Ensure you utilize these resources the next time you hit the water with the aim of catching some huge yellow perch either for the frying pan or for the wall.

Advantages Of Shore Perch Fishing Without A Boat:

The main benefit of fishing from a bank for this species of fish is that you don’t necessarily require a boat. If you are fishing with a boat, you can only fish on waters that are legal, which comes with some type of boat launch and access area. Those fishing without the assistance of a boat require just a proper baitcasting rod, a bait, and if possible, a fish finder, to make things much easier.

Bank fishing gives anglers the opportunity to navigate those really turbulent and un-fished regions of a pond that boats can’t access.

Owning a boat can make perch fishing less stressful. With the aid of a boat, you can navigate just about to any part of an accessible lake in a short period of time and you are not restricted by how far you can cast.

Shore anglers can only fish as deep as they can cast. Whereas anglers with boats can actually fish anywhere, on whichever lake they choose. The only area they can’t get to are the inlets and the backwater areas where the water is quite shallow. There definitely exist many benefits attached to fishing without a boat but at the end of the day, you are to an extent at a disadvantage without a boat.

How To Pattern Yellow Perch From Shores Each Season:

Early Spring:

Perch usually spawn in early to mid-summer. They do not create beds. Rather, they gather in schools in shallow water. You are required to fish shallow water below 10 feet deep. Most spawning happens at night as well as early morning but perch will wait in this shallow water most of the day. 

• Where you can find them: 

 You can find them in shallow water below 10 feet deep. Maybe not coincidentally, shallow water will also be where the water is warmest in the beginning of season. 

• Best bait to use: 

 Live bait like worms, minnows, and mealworms. Lures are capable of enticing good bites especially during the night. Feeding won’t be the major concern of a perch, but they will attack enough food when sighted. 

• How to fish them: 

 During the night or day, maintain your baits within 50 feet offshore. You can find most schooling perch in these ranges. Fish gradually but try out some little lures as they could incite bites.

Winter:

If you are fishing for yellow perch during winter, it denotes that you live in states that are warm where lakes don’t freeze over or it is basically not very cold enough to be on the ice, and you have areas of lake with soft-water. 

• Where to find them: 

 Perch will usually be in water 8-15 feet deep during months with low temperature. In most waterways, you can search for these fishes within 100 feet off shore. 

• Best bait choices: 

 Mealworms, little minnows (1-2 inches), night crawlers as live bait. Dead minnows will work if your state prohibits live minnows. Man-made baits like spinners, spoons, jigs, and soft plastics can work well from shore. 

• How to fish them: 

 Fishing with live bait, you can make use of a bobber or no strike indicator whatsoever. Thrust your bait as close to the bottom as you possibly can. If fishing with the aid of lures, cast your baits at an angle of 45-degree and reel gradually. Fishing with the aid of angles will allow your bait spend quality time fishing each depth area as you reel.

Late Spring:

During late spring, most spawn will cease to exist.  Main perch predators such as bass and pike are now getting into their various spawning seasons, so for the moment, perch are not threatened. Because of this, they will be aggressively feeding to replenish their bodies from the difficult spawn. 

• Where to find them: 

 Late spring perch will be migrating into deeper water.  Fish tight close to shelves, docks, and weeds in water 11-20 feet deep. 

• Best bait choices: 

 When fishing for yellow perch in this season, ensure you utilize live bait and some artificial lures. You can also begin throwing some dry and wet flies at them if you can’t project your bait far out enough. 

• How to fish them: 

 Perch will certainly be concentrating on medium-depth water that is somewhat close to shore. You should be able to get the fishes, as they will be within 50 feet offshore in several cases. They’ll be ready to attack baits and lures because they will be quite hungry after the spawn.

Early Summer:

As the water gets hot, perch will either be tight to conspicuous cover (Lily, pads, dock, structure) or down deep. Opportunities are from the shore; you won’t be able to obtain the deep ones. So, concentrate on those perch that are within 50 feet offshore around cover. 

• Where to find them: 

Holding tight to cover or down deep. Docks, shore, and lily pads are an ideal place to focus on.

• Best bait choice: 

Live bait to include live or dead minnows, mealworms, worms, leeches, and grasshoppers. Perch will attack lures especially close to sunset and after dark.

• How to fish them: 

Cast your bait into the shaded water associated with timber, docks, or lily pads. These regions are where you will discover the most fish. Huge perch can always be found down deep at the foundation of dock pilings. Allow your bait settle before adding action to it for effective results.

Late Summer:

Similar to early summer, perch will be down deep outside for casting range, or they will be gripping very tight to cover. During the late night and afternoon, perch will move off and become very much active. They will also form a group of schools in order to provide some protection from nocturnal predators such as walleye and catfish. 

• Where to find them: 

 Gripping tight to docks and other conspicuous structures during the periods of high temperature. You won’t be able to project your bait out far enough for these deep fish, so concentrate on those close to the shore. During the night, they will school in medium-depth water and feed wildly. 

• Best bait choices: 

 Live bait to contain minnows (dead or alive), grasshoppers, wax worms, mealworms, and crickets. Man-made baits such as little lures and flies (fly fishing) can work immensely as well. 

• How to fish them: 

 Cast your bait very tight to cover. At daytime, perch won’t want to go far from the shades casted by the weeds, docks, and lily pads. If you are finding it hard getting your bait to land in shaded water, you’ll be better off. During nighttime, cast around to find fish. Perch will gather to form big schools at nights so it will make it quite easy for you to locate them, but immediately you do, fish the school until but ceases and the school changes location.

Early Fall:

At times of early fall, the alternating water temperature will activate perch to start feeding more in anticipation for the winter season while also decelerating their level of activity. What this denotes for anglers is that, you’ll be required to get your baits closer to them and reduce your approach. Change lures for live baits. 

• Where to find them:

 Early fall perch will start migrating off shallow cover into deeper water. You can still get these fish as it is likely that they’ll be near cover in 10-20 feet of water. Docks can be an outstanding casting spot. You can as well cast from the bank as perch can be within 50 feet offshore. 

• Best bait choices:

 Utilize live baits. Lures can work but perch are now trying to save energy. They will be quite famished but unlikely to chase a lure. 

• How to fish them:

 Cast a live bait as far as you possibly can. Don’t worry about the angles. That method is used to locate fish while fishing with the aid of lures. Rather, project your baits and let the natural baits lure the fish in.

Late Fall:

During times like this, perch will start migrating to deeper water following the withdrawing warmer water. You can still locate some straggler perch within 50 feet offshore. This is particularly genuine of fishing during a warm period. Make use of the breaks in the weather to capture perch as they emerge from the depths to feed in the warmer temperatures. 

• Where to find them: 

 Majority of them will be deeper than you can thrust from the bank, but few perch will remain close to docks and weedy regions. 

• Best bait choice: 

 Live bait is the ideal pick.  Worms will work fine but minnows ( dead or alive) are your best option. 

• How to fish them: 

 Cast your baits as close to cover as you can. You will likely catch bass, pickerel, or walleye, but you can still find perch relaxing there. If you know of an area that gets deep close to the shore, pitch your baits there and you may run into a honey hole full of hungry looking yellow perch.

Few Shoreline Yellow Perch Tips:

Fish cover during summer sun:

Yellow perch will certainly cling on during the hottest times of summer to conspicuous cover such as lily pads and docks. These spots offer perch some protection from predators and from direct sun rays which makes it difficult for them to see.

Dusk and night are ideal during summer:

Yellow perch will migrate off a defined cover and feed wildly close to sunset. After dark is when the real action can begin. Get on the water before sunset, ensure you go with the best fishing gear; you can go for an inexpensive baitcasting reel, as it is quite affordable.

While on the water, make sure you fish from the shore until you get tired of catching perch.

45- Degree angle when pitching lures:

If you are fishing lures from a bank, don’t pitch your lures straight out in front of you. As you draw in your bait, you will present only your bait in each depth of water for a minute moment before the bait drops deeper. Rather, cast your bait at 45-degree angles into the water. By so doing, your bait will naturally remain in each depth zone as you reel in the bait at an angle.

Fish close to shore for spring trophy females:

The ideal time of the year to reel in the biggest yellow perch is right before the spring spawn. Fish close to the shore and you’ll have a perfect opportunity to land a trophy.

Some Good Natural Bait for Catching Perch From Shore:

• Wax worm
• Mealworms
• Grasshoppers
• Live fathead minnows
• Leeches
• Small suckers
• Sweet corn kernels
• Perch eyes
• Nightcrawlers/worms
• Dead fathead minnows

Conclusion:

If you are quite conversant with surf fishing and all that it entails, then shore fishing for yellow perch shouldn’t be a hard task for you. In fishing for this specie of fishes, you have to be armed with the right fishing gears, and you must be able to exercise patience and not rush. By adopting the above-mentioned tips on fishing for yellow perch, you are bound to reel in more yellow perch on your next yellow perch fishing adventure.