Perch is mainly fished for its tasty and firm meat, thereby making it one of the most popular varieties consumed by people. It is easy to catch and is one of those kinds which can also be caught by anglers. Read this article to read about more such tips and perch fishing.
With almost 165 species, freshwater perch is one of the most abundantly available fish and can be commonly found in streams and lakes. Those found in lakes are smaller as compared to those found in streams and rivers. Some of these dark-striped, yellow-gold fish can grow to about 5 - 12 inches and may be around 4 pounds in weight. When they go into feeding frenzy, they can become easy prey and can be easily caught. One of the most important tips is to know their exact habitat and the kind of equipment required for catching them. The best part is that you don't need expensive gear to start fishing for perch.
Most people use reels, traditional rods, and casting techniques for catching fish. Try using fly-fishing method for catching perch. In this method, you would need to drag artificial flies over the surface of the water so as to tempt the fish to come out to the surface to grab the bait.
You don't need to get some expensive equipment for this method, you would just need a cheap reel and fly-fishing rod. You may get a graphite or fiberglass rod that is about 2 to 2.5 meters in length. Compared to other fishing lines, fly-fishing lines are heavier, but it's recommended that you use a lighter line if you are adopting this method. Flies and poppers are the baits used in fly fishing. They are designed like insects and are created in such a way that they skip across the surface of water.
Searching for perches in the right place is one of the most important tips. These fish are most commonly found in freshwater. You should look for those places which are filled with reeds, rocks, inlets, submerged objects, and weeds or any such place where plants can grow. Bait fish are attracted by plants and perches are pulled towards these fish. Depending on their sizes, perches move around together, larger fish move around in deep waters and smaller ones remain in shallow water. If you are able to catch a perch, it means that there are chances of finding more of these. Perch fish tend to gather in deep waters and so you should search for them in such places.
Once you know where to find them, the next thing to know is how to catch them. These fish are not choosy eaters and so you can use a number of options as bait. You can use live bait like grubs, night crawlers, insect larvae, and small minnows. They also like to have cut baits such as crayfish meat. You should try to hook them from the tail instead of the mouth. The baits should be light and small as their mouth is small. There are a variety of colors for the lures and these fish are mostly attracted towards flashy colors.
White Perch Fishing Tips
As perch fish move in groups you have a good chance of catching a few of them. The tips used for fishing for white perch are same as those used for fishing yellow perch.
The first and most important thing is to identify and locate them. You should know what they look like before heading to catch them. They are usually 10 inches long, silvery in color, and they possess three sharp spines in the dorsal fins. Usually in a river, white perch fish would move around in deeper waters. Some of the places where these fish can be found are coves and backwaters. You should also check out for a place where there is a tree which hangs over as there are chances that they would gather there.
The next important thing to remember is the tackle used. You should make use of a tackle which is not too expensive and has a light spinning reel. A fast-action rod should be used as it can feel even a slight nibble besides having enough strength so that the hook is set rapidly.
Night crawlers are an excellent bait for white perch. Moreover, they are economical, too. Make sure you use a small portion of night crawlers while you fish for white perches. They may bite a whole night crawler without being captured.
The most important things to remember are to find the proper location, using a good luring bait, and of course, using the proper equipment for catching these fish.