Yellow perch school heavily in early spring (March-April), staging in 6-15 feet of water near rocky structure and weed edges before their pre-spawn move. Small jigs tipped with minnows, drop-shot worms, or small spinners produce reliably. Find one perch and you'll typically find dozens.
Spawn calendar pages cover yellow perch timing.
Related on Bield Fish
More in Freshwater Species Behavior
Cluster anchor
Where do bass go in summer?
Do bass bite during cold fronts?
How do I catch walleye at night?
Reading now
How do I catch yellow perch in early spring?
How do I find fish in a new lake?
How do I fish for muskellunge?
What do catfish eat and when do they feed?
What is a thermocline and how does it affect bass in summer?
What is the best time of day to fish for bass?
Where do bass go in winter?
Where do crappie go after they spawn?
Why are northern pike aggressive in spring?
Track tides, SST, migrations, spawn, hatches, and stocking for the water you fish. 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Start free trial →