Yellow Perch

[sprestwood]

Does anyone know of temperatures for spawn and pre-spawn bedding for Yellow Perch? And does anyone have some strategies for catching them in the shallows during the spawn?

 

[team-d]

I don't know about spawn temps but I think it's earlier than a lot of the spiny rays. Up in the NW I used 1/4oz blade baits (silver buddy type lures) to find then, then slowed down with crappie jigs or plain bait hooks tipped with worms, maggots, or the best is perch eyes. Once you catch one take a paper clip use one of the U-shaped ends to go into the eye socket and around the back of the eyeball and pop the sucker out - put the hook right through the center of the eye. Sounds weird and maybe a bit gross but they work!

I've only caught one perch since moving to TN, it was in Nickajack on a 10" worm fishing for bass - where do you perch fish around here?

 

[Guest]

You might do a search on the perch on this site, I remember someone taking their kids fishing and the kids wanted to catch some more of the perch, they had a hole staked out that was just full of the little fellahs, can't remember what was used for bait.

 

[SpurHunter]

WHen I was a kid fishing in ponds, we used lots of bream eye's for bait. THey hold on the hook really well, and the more fish you catch, the more bait you have!

</p>

Doc, I remember the post you are talking about, but that feller was tight-lipped on the location of those fish. </p>

 

[sprestwood]

thanks for the replies. I havent seen much on the sizes, what would be average or exceptional. Can I get some ideas on how big they are on the Chick? I dont even think there is a TARP length for yellow perch.

 

[sprestwood]

It does seem like yellow perch are somewhat of a cold water spawing fish like walleye and sauger. Which is why they can be found up in the Hiwassee at times and in bays in lake. Most anything mention on this site is like "I caught 1 yellow with this and that" doesnt seem like it is really targeted.

 

[SpurHunter]

Found it!</p>

http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=14767&posts=6</p>

 

[EricM]

They spawn early - they are close relatives of walleye and sauger. Small baits, especially small minnows, fished slowly just off of the bottom. I've caught them the best in the Hiwassee just upstream from Hiwassee Island, and in the Tennessee river upstream from Hiwassee Island. If I remember correctly, it was generally 8 to 10 feet of water. 6" fish are common, 8+ a good fish, ant there are always some bigger. My personal best weighed exactly 1 pound and was HUGE for a yellow perch around here. Good luck!

 

[sprestwood]

EricM your observations are close to mine of the perch behavior, I also have a personal best of 13"" yello perch which might have weiged a pound.

 

[team-d]

Yeah, if I remember right Walleye are actually a member of the Perch family. There are some big'uns in the NW, especially in Lake Washington basically right in Seattle. Caught a couple on cranks while fishing for smallmouth that were probably pushing 2lbs. They are definitely my favorite fish to eat if you can get some decent sized ones...

 

[oldsoldier]

I haven't been able to fish much in the last 2 or 3 years, but before that I used to catch a lot of perch in Feb. and Mar.. My favorite holes were in the back of Mullens cove where the creek comes in and in cave lake in front of Macedonia church. I would fish in 2 to 4 ft. of water using either a minnow or a tiny rattle trap on an ultralight rig. It seems I would always catch a few small bass mixed in with the perch.

 

[sprestwood]

oldsoldier, is Mullens Cove close to jasper?

 

[oldsoldier]

Scott, it's between the Sullivan's ramp and the Bennett lake ramp. Closer to Jasper than Chattanooga.

 

[NRG]

Ive caught a bunch back in the creek that goes past soddy lake up near the bridges in march in years past ... also way up in sale creek too

 

[sprestwood]

thanks oldsoldier, It seems like yellow perch spawn in slightly warmer water than walleye it they are sticking around in creeks and bays until march, but could be some other factors the trigger spawn like daylight length and the moon or post spawn feeding and or fry rearing. These tips could keep me very busy for the next 2 months. Thanks all for the tips.

 

[heath j]

I know that Parksville Lake has lots of them and if you can get to the lake above the White Water course there are some monsters according to a friend of mine. I know I have always caught alot at the bottom of the Ocoee #1 Dam very early in the spring that show signs of spawning.

 

[Jerry]

There is an article on perch in the latest In-Fisherman magazine, March 2008, page 78. I remember as a child fishing for perch in Lake Erie with my dad. Great memories, but the perch I've accidently caught in Lake Chickamauga were small.

 

[incavenow]

I caught quite a few yellow perch back when I still had a boat with a motor. We would head up the creek that runs in just below the lock on Chickamauga Dam. It's one of the Chickamauga Creeks. Anyway, I caught them on small tube jigs. Generally had the best luck in a bend with a gravel or sand bar.

 

[sprestwood]

looks like a lot of folks just 'accidentally' catch Yellow Perch. I have learned a little of their non-spawn habitat. Many largemouth fishers would put jures in sunken brush and trees. Apparently a smaller lure would catch Yellow Perch in the same type of cover.

 

[Hal]

Usually fish over gravel/sandy bottom. When I lived in Michigan we fished the Saginaw Bay
in about 15/20 feer of water. Spring time to very early summer. The rig up was a bell weight, just enough to hold it on the bottom, go up 12 inches with a #1 hook then up another 12 inches with another #1 hook. Use small minnows and you can catch 'em 2 at a time. Lots'a fun, pull like crazy when you have two of them on at a time! Best from the Bay was usually 12 to 13 inches. Here I've caught some that were 6 or 8 inches but so far none bigger. Good luck,emoSmile .....Hal
and yes, they will bite just a fish eye if you run out of minnows!