Freshwater Fishing News

Metal jigs or spoons can be extremely effective during winter fishing. Their effectiveness is related to winter fish behavior. During the cold months, freshwater fish often move into deeper water and feed primarily on small baitfish. Metal slab jigs and similar lures are designed to be fished deep and mimic baitfish.

Unlike some lure designs, metal jigs are reliable and easy to use. Although they can be casted, they often work well simply by lowering them straight down. As metal lures fall, their fluttering motion attracts hungry fish.

By keeping the rod tip high and making a series of lifts and slow drops, the angler can cover the entire water column. This same technique can be applied while anchored, drifting, or from a slow moving boat. Some anglers combine several techniques such as casting around the boat as well as vertical jigging as each method produces a slightly different presentation to fish.

Both jigs and spoons are available in a variety of sizes and colors. Chrome plated is the most popular, but some models are available in gold or colors such as white, chartreuse, or other choices. Some models of metal jigs feature treble hooks while others are equipped with a single hook. Spoons also feature a variety of hook styles, including fixed single hooks, free-swinging treble hooks, or other configurations. Some models of spoons are also equipped with a weed guard which lessens snagging or fouling from debris.

Small metal jigs can be extremely effective for catching bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseeds, or other sunfish species. They also take crappie, yellow perch, white perch, and other panfish. Larger models are used to catch largemouth bass, pike, pickerel, walleye, and other fish. In many locations, it can be critical to match lures to local baitfish populations.

Soft plastics or other lures are sometimes added to metal jigs or spoons. Single hook rigged jigs are necessary when adding lures such as grub bodies, tubes or slug baits. Some models of metal jigs or spoons are available with pre-dressed hooks. A few of the more popular styles are dressed with deer hair or feathers and come in several colors.

In some fisheries, anglers prefer to tip metal jig hooks with a live minnow, strip bait, or morsel of cut bait.

In many areas, fall is one of the best times to fish for yellow perch. These brightly colored fish are hard fighters and make excellent table fare. Although small fish are present during the fall season, trophy class yellow perch are often caught.

For anglers in search of jumbo sized fall yellow perch, location can be a key factor. Large fish are often caught in areas where fishing pressure is light. In many cases, yellow perch hot spots are difficult to reach or present challenges to anglers.

When targeting yellow perch during the fall season, recent information can be extremely valuable. Among the sources are catch reports from bass or crappie specialists. Both of these niche angling groups tend to catch yellow perch by accident while targeting their favorite species. Although some anglers are very tight-lipped when it comes to sharing information, most are more than happy to discuss non-target species.

Structure Fishing

In most locations, fall yellow perch are found near structure. In main rivers, they are often found along steep drops, although perch are quick to move up onto shallow flats to feed during warm periods. During the late season, river anglers sometimes find yellow perch in good numbers, often mixed in with largemouth bass, crappie, white perch, or other species.

In creeks and smaller tributaries, yellow perch move into pools or other deep sanctuaries during the fall season. They often feed aggressively, staging along areas where currents meet eddies.

In small ponds, yellow perch often stage near dropoffs during Autumn. In some impoundments, bass or crappie anglers are sometimes surprised as trophy class yellow perch attack their lures, especially near sunset.

In larger lakes, yellow perch may congregate along slopes or in deep channels near their summer feeding areas. As aquatic vegetation dies off and settles to the bottom, perch may lurk in these deeper areas, feeding on forage fish, insect larvae, crustaceans, and other food sources that are swept into the open.

Lures vs. Baits

When choosing lures or baits for fall yellow perch fishing, anglers take into consideration the type of habitat, water depth, clarity, and temperature, weather conditions, and other factors. Other species may also influence gear choices as some anglers prefer to target yellow perch exclusively, while others may seek a variety of species, including crappie, white perch, white bass, sunfish, largemouth bass, and others.

Best Lures for Catching Yellow Perch

The most common yellow perch lures include a variety of small to mid-sized jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, tube lures, plastic worms, and other selections. In many environments,  the best artificial lures for yellow perch are ones that can reach deep fish while moving enticingly at low speeds. When fish are found among stumps, tree trunks, or other obstructions, snagless designs become essential.

When fishing among obstructions, downsizing of traditional largemouth bass lures and techniques is sometimes effective for yellow perch. Although perch may slow down in cold water, they sometimes bite aggressively and will take plastic worms, tube lures, or other soft plastics.

Live Baits and Rigs for Catching Yellow Perch

In some areas, live baits are preferred for catching yellow perch. Minnows are by far the most common choice as live baits. Alternative live baits sometimes include small crayfish, nightcrawlers, or insect larvae (grubs).

Live minnows can be fished using a number of rigs, with each having one or more specific applications. The simplest rig consists of a basic jig such as a shad dart, tube jig, or marabou jig, tipped with a live minnow. Jig-minnow combinations work particularly well when casting or drifting over shallows or moderate depths.

Minnows can also be fished on a live bait or circle hook, rigged on traditional top and bottom leaders, dropshot rigs, or as Carolina or Texas rigs. Live bait hooks and other traditional style hooks are popular in some applications, although they do have a number of drawbacks.

Floating jig hooks are also useful in some situations, especially when rigged as a Carolina rig. Floating jig heads position live minnows just off the bottom, away from obstructions and other debris.

One option for fishing live minnows is the circle hook. Circle hooks reduce fish mortality by greatly reducing deep hooking. Although circle hooks require a higher level of skill to use than conventional hooks, most anglers find them extremely effective.

Circle hooks are available in a number of styles. Many circle hooks come with offset points, although a true circle hook, by definition, has no hook offset. Most freshwater circle hooks can be easily bent in order to remove any offset, making them less likely to snag on obstructions or gut hook yellow perch.

Circle hooks work well for drifting live minnows on Carolina rigs or on a long leader with a dropper type sinker configuration. Some anglers add a small tube body, bucktail skirt, or mylar skirt above the hook to add elements of flash and color.

Regardless of the type of rig used for catching yellow perch, late season fishing can be productive. Depending on local conditions, yellow perch fishing may continue into winter. In northern areas, more perch fishing follows as soon as lake ice over enough for winter fishing to begin.

A variety of factors are known to influence fish behavior. Through experience and study, anglers learn to adapt their fishing activities to changing conditions.

Weather is perhaps the most important factor that can affect fishing. Not only does weather impact the angler’s comfort, but it can also have critical effects on fish behavior. Wind, temperature changes and light levels are all weather-related and these factors combine in a myriad of ways to influence fish.

Barometric pressure is widely regarded as one of strongest factors that affect fishing. Sudden changes in barometers often coincide with fishing activity. Some species are said to stop feeding during certain barometric conditions, while fishing for other species may actually improve.

Timing is often a critical factor to fishing success. For some species, the first and last hours of daylight often trigger feeding periods.  Seasons also have tremendous impacts on fish and angling success. Although many people associate fishing with summer, much of North America’s best freshwater fishing occurs in the spring, fall and even during the cold winter months.

Spawning runs are critical periods for freshwater fishing. Several species of anadromous fish migrate from saltwater into North American rivers. Other spawning events occur in inland lakes or mountain streams.

Insect hatches can trigger excellent fishing. These usually occur in coldwater streams and northern lakes when aquatic insect nymphs emerge from the water and morph into adults. Perhaps the most famous quote in fishing is “match the hatch.” The term refers to the act of selecting a fly that mimics the correct species of insect during a hatching event.

When forage species migrations occur, gamefish usually gather to feed. These events can be triggered by weather, seasonal influences, food availability, or other factors. A variety of other food source events can trigger good fishing. Many of these are not widely known and are often known only to local anglers.

For most anglers, drop offs, channel edges and other underwater structures are among the most important areas for targeting fish.

Types of structure:

Channel edges are the most common areas where depths vary. These drops often hold fish, especially during specific conditions.

In reservoirs, rock walls sometimes occur, some of which are nearly vertical. These structures can act to divert water flows, which in turn attracts fish.

In many lakes and rivers, natural rock outcrops occur, either submerged or breaking the surface. These formations can be dangerous to boaters but can hold good numbers of fish.

Manmade structures such as sea walls, bulkheads, wrecks, reefs and even boats can attract fish.

Border Habitats

Often, channels and other drop offs are bordered by mud flats, sandbars or other shallow areas. These areas serve as refuges for baitfish and other forage sources.

Spadderdock, also known as water lily, cow lily, or yellow pond lily, is often found along the edges of drop offs. Spatterdock plants grow in freshwater beds, with roots embedded in the bottom and leaves floating on the water’s surface.

In some areas, deep sections are bordered by shallow areas of stones, aggregate or other debris. While the nearby shallows may be difficult to fish due to obstructions, these nearby deep pools or channels can be worth fishing.

Water Flows

Drop offs are subject to a variety of water movements. In many cases, water moves to or from shallower areas nearby. These water flows can be caused by temperature, wind, downstream currents, tidal movements, upwellings, spring flows, or other factors.

When fishing drop offs, it can be worthwhile to take notice of subtle hints concerning water flow. Is the wind coming off a sandbar, blowing the water directly into the channel? What about upwellings? Are their visible changes in color or noticeable changes in temperature along the drop?

Working these structures in pairs can sometimes be productive, with one angler focusing on deeper areas while a partner casts towards the flats. Usually, through experimentation, a pattern of fish behavior can be found. In some cases fish may behave in a similar manner for extended period. In other cases, fish may move in reaction to changing water temperatures, current flows or other factors.

Weights used in freshwater fishing include egg sinkers, split shot, bullet weights, slip sinkers, drails, bottom fishing sinkers and other tackle.  Weights and sinkers are used to control the depth of lures and to increase casting distances. When fishing live or cut baits, weights and sinkers help the angler maintain baits in the strike zone.

Line Weights

Several types of weights for fishing either attach to the line or have a hole that allows lines to pass thru. These include split shot, clamp-on, rubber core, egg, bullet and torpedo designs. These weights are typically used for drifting live and cut baits or for casting artificial lures.

Split shot, rubber core and clamp-on weights are often used under a bobber or when a small amount of weight is needed. These three designs grip the line and do not move during fishing. Of the three types, the rubber core design is the most versatile because it can be re-positioned easily. Other types are crimped on with pliers and are useful only once.

Bullet weights are most often used when fishing artificial worms, although they have other applications. These hydrodynamic weights have several advantages. Their shape makes them cast well, retrieve easier and enables them to be fished among obstructions with less likelihood of getting snagged.

Bullet weights can be allowed to slide freely or can be fixed in place using a number of methods. The simplest Texas rig uses a classic bullet sinker. To set the weight in place, a toothpick is thrust into the center hole and broken off in place which prevents the weight from moving along the line. A variety of variations are available, including weights that use a small cork screw type device to attach to the plastic lure. Other rigs for fishing artificial worms combine the hook and weight into a single unit.

Inline Weights

Inline weights use some method of connecting the line at each end. These weights are used for primarily for drifting in mid-depths or for trolling baits or lures. Depending on the application, inline weights may be located from 3 to 50 feet or more from the bait or lure. The simplest of inline weights are torpedo shaped, with brass rings at either end. These weights allow anglers to connect lines directly to the weight, either by knots, crimps or thru the use of snap-swivels.

More evolved inline weights (drails) offer better methods for connecting lines. For example, some weights have built in swivels or  and special keels which limit line twist. These weights are engineered specifically for trolling and offer better control of line twist.

Sinkers

These weights located at the very end of the line. Sinkers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and variations, with each style having a specific use. The most common are simple, one piece bank sinkers. Other designs feature an inset ring or swivel for attaching leaders. Other variations involve the shape of the sinker, with teardrop, disk, pencil, slip sinker, ball, and pyramid shapes being among the most widely used.

Weight – Sinker Selection

Regardless of the fishing technique being used, weight selection is critical to success. Weights that are too small will not have the required effect while oversized weights may spook fish or suppress the action of baits and lures. As water depth, current and bait sizes vary, weights may have to be adjusted accordingly during an outing.

Some sinkers have specific applications. For example slip sinkers allow anglers to drift or slowly troll baits over rocks or other obstructions.