![]() Add wax worms, meal- worms and grubs to lures to provide added enticement. Skirted or not they are excellent in combo with a grub, waxworm or other natural bait over muddy bottoms and submerged weed beds. These lures can be fished with fast twitches or slowly, so don't hesitate to experiment with the action. Tungsten is denser than lead and sinks rather quickly, making these jig heads excellent on deep-water flats, the edges of drop-offs and in other areas where perch feed deep. Some anglers fish them with plastic or feathered skirting, like marabou, for added attraction. Small jig heads in 1/32- and 1/8-ounce sizes, like Acme's Pro-Grade Tungsten Jigs, are productive once a school is on the feed. Typically, a series of steady lifts or short, quicks jerks with brief pauses at the top and bottom ends will do the trick. Again, the key here is not to work them too fast-just enough to feel the action. Because the line eye is centered, sinking plugs have lots of side-to-side and circular movement when jigged upward and imitate a wounded baitfish when sinking. These offerings sink well, making them an excellent choice for deep-water areas. They're available in a variety of finishes, and most perch fishermen use a wide selection in both bright and dull colors to match dominant minnow species, water clarity and light conditions. Sizes from 2 inches and smaller are popular. Plugs like the Jigging Rap and Jigging Shad Rap from Rapala and Acme’s Hyper Glide Minnow are excellent all-around offerings for getting yellow perch to bite, but especially for prospecting. Fish them just fast enough to feel the vibration. The mistake many anglers make is working spoons and blades too aggressively, which causes the lures to tumble and twist in the line. A slight hesitation at the top before allowing it to sink will often draw a strike. Whether prospecting or trying to hook up, allow these offerings to hit the bottom, then bring them up several inches to a foot or two with the rod tip. Regardless of size, spoons and blade baits sink fast, are good replicas of multiple forage species, vibrate and move in the water well and produce lots of flash. Generally speaking, gold and dark colors attract best late and early in the day and under cloudy skies, while silver and bright colors work well on days with clear skies and plenty of sun. Most spoons and blade baits come in 1- to 2-inch sizes. The same is true of the "rattling" spoon models the added noise not only helps attract perch but seems to stimulate them into biting. Straight blade baits and straight or slightly bent spoons are great for both attracting and catching yellow perch. If nothing happens within that timeframe, I move to another location and start all over again, keeping mind yellow perch are always on the move. Typically, whether using tip-ups or jigging, I like to give my holes 30 minutes to start producing. The disruption and cloud of mud or dirt on the bottom seems to suggest baitfish or other forage are active, and it's a good way to draw perch. ![]() When fishing artificial lures, don’t hesitate to actually hit and stir up the bottom on occasion, especially when starting out. This works well when fishing tip-ups and live bait, and because your holes are already predrilled, moving is relatively quick and easily done when jigging. It is near or on the bottom where insect larva, crustaceans, minnows and other important prey species are found, and perch generally cruise and feed at the same level.Ī popular search method is to drill a series of holes in a perpendicular line out from the shore, or in a wide circle offshore, with each hole spaced 20 or so yards apart. Regardless of water depth, be it 10 or 30 feet, ice fishing for yellow perch generally starts at or near the bottom, especially this time of year. ![]() No matter the water depth, winter perch typically hold near bottom. Many tackle shops and retail outlets may also have local lake contour maps. They show water depths and, in some cases, various types of structure and habitat conditions. These are typically available in print form and/or via download from the agency’s web site. To locate these areas, reference lake maps produced by most state fish and wildlife departments. In general, channel edges, deep and shallow mud flats, points that gradually taper to deeper water, submerged weed beds in coves and rocky reefs in 15 to 25 feet of water are hotspots for various types of forage. Find the food and you will find yellow perch. Yellow perch are notorious for constantly being on the move, but they'll always be near food.
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