You may also want a cooler or stringer to hold you fish, especially if you catch several, or want to keep fishing after a catch. Bring a pair of polaroid glasses with you—they’ll help you see into the water and figure out what’s really around. Always have a second rod on standby just in case anything happens.
Get the right lures. If you can’t get live bait, artificial lures such as plugs, jigs, and spinners are good ways to draw in perch. Yellow, white, and yellow-white designs seem to be the most popular, but perch have been known to favor other colors and designs. [2] X Research source Perch are smaller fish and move quickly, so you’ll need a lure that reacts to less movement and is easy for you to keep an eye on. [3] X Research source
Be sure to check if the license comes with any catch limits. You don’t want to get in trouble for taking too many fish. Plus, that isn’t fair to other anglers. Check online to see what your region’s fishing license requirements are.
During late spring and early summer, early morning and early evening hours are best. During late summer, late afternoon and evening is best. In autumn, the best times are morning, and late afternoon evening. During the winter, the low light of late afternoon-evening is good.
Boat fishing is a good way to get into deep water, and allows you to move quickly if fish aren’t biting or the school moves. Shore or dock fishing are good places to catch perch. They like the shelter of man-made objects, and can usually be found near overhanging trees or other cover. If you are near the shore, look for areas that will have a steep drop-off into deep water. Your state’s Department of Natural Resources may have topographic maps to locate these spots. [6] X Research source
Bait casting. Cast your line out into an area where the fish might be. Let it sit for a while, reeling in if you feel the need to recast. Aim beyond the point you want to hit, as it’s always easier to pull your line back. Still fishing. This involves dropping your line into the water and letting it sit, seeing if the fish come to you. You can do this from the shore, a dock or pier, or an anchored boat. This method involves the most patience, as you will not do much more than sit and wait for the fish to bite. Trolling. Drop your line into the water, and move, letting your line drag through the water. You can do this by having your boat move slowly through the water, or by walking slowly along a shoreline or pier. If you are in a boat, you will need to keep the engine running lightly to avoid scaring the fish. Some states do not allow motorized trolling, so make sure you are familiar with regulations before trying it. Ice fishing. Perch are active in the winter, so you can still catch them even in water that is frozen over. Fish in the winter are move more slowly, so if you find them they probably won’t go to far. With the thick ice, having an electronic fish finder can help you figure out the best place to cut into the ice.
It may help to have a bucket or small net to hold the fish once you get it out of the water.
By the same token, if you aren’t catching any fish, move. Perch stay in their schools, and if they aren’t in one place, look for another one. By this point, you may be interested in filleting your perch.
