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Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)
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Yellow Perch are very aggressive and willing to take a lure or bait readily which makes them lots of fun for both adults or children. Yellows also make great bait for many of species of freshwater fish. Small yellows 2-3" make great trout bait and bigger perch to 10" seem to excite big bass, both smallmouths and largemouth.
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The best time to fish for these pan fish is during winter thru the ice, but they can be caught year around. Yellow perch are a schooling fish. Big Yellows can usually be found in deeper water while the smaller ones like the shallows. Perch are going to be there heaviest this time of year since they spawn in our area just after ice out. Try looking for big yellows on deep flats or humps and don't be afraid to use big baits. You'll be surprised at what a 15" yellow perch can eat.
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I like to jig for most of my perch with a small ultra light action jig stick and 2lb test mono. I have had my best success with Swedish pimples, kastmasters, forage minnows, and air plane jigs. though the jigs will work on there own, tipping them with mousies, waxies, mealworm, or bits of shiner and even fish eyes can make a difference.
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Tip-ups can also be used to catch Yellow perch. If looking for big perch try large shiners or night crawlers a foot off the bottom. Many people love eating these colorful pan fish and some bodies of water could use the weeding. I hear that small perch fillets can be poached and served with a cocktail sauce to mimic shrimp...since I don't eat fish, I can't attest to that.
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| IGFA World Record: 4lbs 3oz, Bordentown, NJ, May 1865 Dr. C.C. Abbot
NFWHF World Record:
State Records
ME: 1lbs 10oz, Worthley Pond, Chad Mostats, 1989
NH: 2lbs 6oz, Heads Pond, R. Hebert, 1969
MA: 2lbs 12oz, South Watuppa Pond, James OConner, 1979
RI: 2lbs 4oz
CT: 2lbs 13oz, Black Pond, Miller B. Bassett, 1973
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Courtesy of Mass wildlife
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