Life of the Yellow Perch and How to Fish for Perch

The yellow perch is a popular species of freshwater panfish in the United States and Canada. Perch are common and usually abundant where they are found, but they can be tricky to locate within a lake. This video is an overview of the perch's life cycle, biology, and habitat preferences, and the best ways to catch them.
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[@aaronmeyer9431]

I've seen those white egg sacks perch lay in lakes my whole life and never knew what they were. Thank you for your concise information packed videos!

[@FishingwithNat]

You're welcome! I appreciate your comment - thanks.

[@huskergator9479]

Excellent video Nat! Would love to see the same about bluegill! Love the balance of science and experience. You are an awesome teacher and narrator. Love all the underwater footage too. I had no idea they had all those spikes.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. I really appreciate this feedback. I plan to do several more like this with other species.

[@stephenhumphrey1767]

They're a staple in the limited Massachusetts native fisheries we have. Never thought about eating them. Their scales are much more abrasive than you'd think, and can actually wear on your skin after a few of them. Great video as always

[@FishingwithNat]

They are very good eating! Thanks for the comment.

[@TripReviews]

You’ve been missing out on one of the best tasting fish swimming. Skinless fillets fried.

[@timregan1005]

masshole as well. they are fun little pricks to catch, give a nice little fight for a small fish. don't mind hooking them in southern maine as well. good craic

[@yarcraft1778]

Best eating fish on the planet in my opinion.

[@jepsdog3859]

Yea got that right, here in Wisconsin Friday night perch fry at any bar or restaurant!!

[@FishingwithNat]

@@jepsdog3859 Yep. They are delicious.

[@MartyHartman-wl2hd]

Mmm...

[@punishthewicked5845]

Don’t like most fresh water fish for consumption don’t eat parasitic fishes

[@FishingwithNat]

@@punishthewicked5845 They're fine to eat if they're cooked. You can't eat them as sushi like you might with saltwater species though.

[@19DannyBoy65]

One of my favourite perch baits my dad taught me to use when I was a kid is a fresh perch eyeball

[@FishingwithNat]

I could see that working but I haven't tried it myself!

[@liltimothy8109]

That’s gnarly😂👁️

[@samk6707]

Very nice thanks

[@farmingfishingfamilyontari2814]

Great tip. Guess you have to catch one before you can use it 😂

[@farmingfishingfamilyontari2814]

Well that’s a great video. Short, to the point, informative. Thanks

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I appreciate it.

[@fredlevesque1864]

Raised on Lake Erie and love Perch fishing!! Best damn fish I’ve ever eaten!! I live in Florida and still have perch sent to me from up north! Great video too!!!

[@FishingwithNat]

Who sends you perch? Friends from the north? Thanks for the comment!

[@fredlevesque1864]

I apologize, I just saw this😎. I’m from Port Clinton Ohio and get them shipped from Port Clinton Fisheries. I also deal with Whytes Fish Co out of Michigan. Both companies have been super to deal with! Both send overnight and the fish are “hard froze” on EVERY shipment! As a side note, I stopped worrying about cleaning or scaling because every shipment has been fryer ready!!!! Hope this helps!

[@FishingwithNat]

@@fredlevesque1864 Cool - so you buy them from a commercial fishing operation.

[@TripReviews]

Lake Erie perch are very good. Now Ontario’s lake Simcoe and Couchiching are loaded with perch however most ice caught from those lakes were unfortunately infested with grubs.

[@brucesheehe6305]

IMO perch is better than walleye.

[@kunaiwithchain5278]

Also good video. I was a fan of the pike one so it’s good to see another

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed both of them!

[@davidwilliams1805]

Some great information! Thanks so much for sharing this. Keep up the good work my friend! Tight lines!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - much more to come.

[@andrewdelk9876]

Thanks Nat!

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for the comment

[@Deven210]

Nate I appreciate your videos. I’ve been fishing every weekend for the past 3 weeks (haven’t fished since I was 13) haven’t caught anything yet but I’m hoping to catch something tomorrow!

[@FishingwithNat]

Try a live worm or a small jig and soft plastic swimbait. It's hard to go wrong with either of those. I made a video on the three effective ways to use a live worm for bait - check that out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH7Zm6mYq6iUppI

[@Deven210]

@@FishingwithNat you’re the man Nat! I appreciate you!

[@FishingwithNat]

@@Deven210 Best of luck! Let us know what you catch!

[@deanmentjes7774]

Great video, thanks!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Amiyelvovna]

Yellow perch are not as common in the Deep South. I fished Alabama until age 24 before even knowing anything about them. I caught one off the Tennessee River and was amazed at it as I’d never seen one. Apparently they have a fishable population in areas of north AL. Now I target them even though they are still a rare catch here. It’s really a fun challenge and occasionally I’ll get a sauger as well which is even better!

[@FishingwithNat]

Cool! Saugers are neat. They are somewhat common in big rivers around here but you're much more likely to catch a perch or a walleye.

[@honeyholehuntersfishing]

Nice info and underwater footage!.. love the yellow perch .. one of the better looking freshwater fish in my area!👍👊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed the video! Perch are beautiful indeed.

[@moose6144]

Thank you very good information

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@moto_45__]

I've caught lots of these, it's fun on an ultralight!

[@FishingwithNat]

Tons of fun!

[@spicy_mcchikin6135]

Fantastic video

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks!

[@cleavertguyton234]

I would like to see more videos of pan fish. Great video. Tk’s

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@JacksonDunbar-dc4mr]

Nice video. Your a great KZbinr

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I appreciate it

[@b.i.s9915]

Really like these vids

[@FishingwithNat]

Cool - thanks for the feedback!

[@rzambory2938]

Well Done Well Done !! Ty!!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the feedback 🙂

[@R-angler]

Good video.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks

[@R-angler]

Next up in-depth one on Minnesota/northern area crappie?

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the suggestion. That would be fun - I do plan to make more videos like this for other species.

[@neonwhitea.1548]

Wish we had perch in Kansas

[@FishingwithNat]

They are fun - time for a road trip?

[@macc12cj]

Good video 😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you!

[@larrydanadavid2435]

The best tasting freshwater fish I’ve ever eaten was Corn Eyed Brown Trout. They must be pan fried because they’ll fall apart if grilled. I also like Coney Island Whitefish although don’t overcook them because they’ll taste rubbery.

[@FishingwithNat]

Brown trout and whitefish are both excellent too

[@mikeriberdy9282]

Thanks for the info. I fish for perch year round 😂

[@FishingwithNat]

Me too!

[@pauldonnelly336]

Awesome video!…would you consider doing a similar one for walleye or rainbow trout?

[@FishingwithNat]

Both of those are good ideas - thanks for the suggestions.

[@liltimothy8109]

@@FishingwithNatyou could even do a 2 part on the rainbow trout with stocked and native trout

[@kellyhoblin-lamorena7233]

Love these videos! Do a crappie one, please?

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the suggestion - a crappie video sounds fun to me

[@warcraft8226]

thanks

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kunaiwithchain5278]

Seems like they would make a good aquarium pet, no need for a heater

[@FishingwithNat]

They are easy to keep in an aquarium but they will happily eat your pet store fish, so you need to be careful what you put them in with. You can count on anything less than half their size getting eaten.

[@alanstrong55]

FYI: Perch may taste a bit fishy when waters warm in the summer. Better caught in roughly 50 degree water or very close. Using a baby perch for bait may catch you a 20 pound northern pike or better. Better use sturdy line with a wire leader. When is dinner served?

[@FishingwithNat]

Good tips. We just finished dinner - sorry! Next time...

[@CurseKing144]

can you make life of bowfin pls

[@FishingwithNat]

My favorite fish species. Yes, I plan on it!

[@Gooeyooeye12]

Can you do about the walleye next time?

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the suggestion - that sounds like a fun one to me.

[@Cabin_boys]

👍

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@theunknownknowsBYvoivod]

Versatile feeders, it seems. None in my state.

[@FishingwithNat]

Definitely. If you're using any type of live bait or any small lure, a perch will probably strike it!

[@FoulMouthFishing666]

Theyre one of the most aggressive little bastards in the water lol they can also be just as finicky as any other species though obviously

[@t0rme]

Blue gill is the best eating fish, white (striper) bass, crappie, and perch….

[@FishingwithNat]

Those are all good too!

[@readelundy7620]

Best eating fish in my opinion!

[@FishingwithNat]

You bet!

[@phillipwinning2935]

Looks like a red fin (English Perch )

[@FishingwithNat]

Yep, very closely related to the redfin perch (also called English perch or European perch)

[@purikost4783]

dis guy is funny

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video. 🙂

[@Rennette-td2mq]

Musky love to eat em too

[@FishingwithNat]

They sure do. I've had great luck musky fishing with perch-colored baits.

[@maksymandriienko4521]

Wait, panfish?

[@FishingwithNat]

Yep, panfish, as in any small fish that fits in a frying pan. 🙂

[@maksymandriienko4521]

@@FishingwithNat oh, I thought that was a genus of fish

[@FishingwithNat]

@@maksymandriienko4521 Nope, Perca is the genus for yellow perch (and European perch)

[@charlesewerling1709]

Which states lakes do not have perch fish

[@charlesewerling1709]

Do all fresh water lakes have perch ?