Life of the Yellow Perch and How to Fish for Perch

[@Dirtbiker-guy]

Excellent video from the commentary to the editing. Quick and very informative.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - I appreciate that

[@restingraven2649]

I like your videos because they are dense in information and they get right to the point, no 2 minute intro. Pretty refreshing to see on youtube these days.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you. I try to keep my videos concise with no unnecessary fluff. Your time is valuable and so is mine. No need to waste it.

[@Alvin-m1z-q1v]

Yes absolutely I must agree, I learned a lot in this short video. I usually get bored with background music.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@Alvin-m1z-q1v Thanks for your feedback!

[@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.

[@royalewithcheese9257]

I’m doing this thing on my spare time at night now where I play a fishing game on my Nintendo switch and every time I catch something I look it up on KZbin and gather info on it. Your videos make this very enjoyable. Thank you!

[@FishingwithNat]

That's awesome - thanks for sharing 🙂

[@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.

[@SwansonDoggz]

Why bluegill are the easiest fish to understand and catch period. They live in cover any sort of cover they breed in pits the dig out and the big males fight off predators bass, pike, and many other species follow schools of bluegill.

[@axps6457]

These "life of -" videos are great keep it coming with these lesser known but still interesting species

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. Working on another one now. 🙂

[@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

[@taylorramsey6924]

​@@TripReviews my mouth is watering just thinking about it

[@lamberthoratio2874]

Your knot tutorial videos I watch the most but this video and, "The Life of the Northern Pike" are definitely my favorites. Would love to see more species specific videos like this. I think the Pike video was actually my introduction to your channel as my favorite part of fishing is how much can be learned about these interesting animals. Thanks for the great videos!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for leaving this feedback. I plan to do more of these and I'm even working on one right now.

[@FishingwithNat]

@Hamman4 Largemouth and smallmouth are on the list.

[@FishingwithNat]

@Hamman4 Likely. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Hawkins_BJJ]

@Hamman4 Seconded

[@misterfister5810]

I’ve always absolutely loved catching perch, especially when they’re big, really fun to pull in when you got them Not only are they good eating, but are very easy to fillet as well Another thing is that perch also seem to take a liking to spinners as well (based on my experience)

[@FishingwithNat]

Definitely. They are very interested in hitting spinners and I also appreciate how easy they are to fillet and skin.

[@amandacabe8209]

​@@FishingwithNatI been catching yellow perch and bream in shallows in NC this fall

[@amandacabe8209]

​@@FishingwithNatyellow perch fins very sharp

[@FishingwithNat]

@@amandacabe8209 Very true!

[@amandacabe8209]

@@FishingwithNat caught 2 yesterdAy my fav panfish and bream ,I've always wanted to break state record in perch or bream in NC

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@Paw95]

I bought about 170 yellow perch for my pond here in southern Ohio. First round in December then some more in January I think. Almost a year and I was catching them all the way up till June. Hope they thrive in there. Pond is over 1 1/2 acres. Deep part is 14 foot and sallow end 1 1/2 with lots of logs and brush.

[@FishingwithNat]

That sounds like a good spot for perch, and you don't have to worry much about winterkill in southern Ohio. It should be plenty deep for them.

[@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.

[@richinoable]

Good work! Objective content, compelling video editing, zero dudes in meshbacks holding selfie sticks.

[@FishingwithNat]

Haha thanks 😆

[@wax53]

This series is amazing! Can you do trout?

[@FishingwithNat]

Yes, I plan to do rainbow trout soon

[@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.

[@Zelliant]

I honestly love targeting perch. At a lake in my area, there aren’t a ton of bass to eat perch, so perch basically become the apex of the lake. I can throw anything from a crankbait to a swim shad and catch hogs. My best there is a 14 inch Eurasian perch.

[@FishingwithNat]

Awesome. Perch are pretty aggressive so big ones can become formidable predators!

[@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

[@robertweldon7909]

In the great lakes (for me Lake Erie) Perch (called Jumbo's) get quite large. In the 1950's we would go out on the lake and find where the Gull's we floating, because under them was usually a large school of bait fish, force to the surface by the parch feeding on them and feeding the gulls. No need to take bait, a dip net would provide the bait. I've had trips where three or four of us would catch enough for fish fry for 10 people. Neat video. Great info. Anyone remember the "Lake Erie Spreader". Catch 2 or 3 at a time? I still have one. '-)

[@FishingwithNat]

Fun! Lake Michigan used to have some pretty phenomenal perch fishing too but it's not as good as it used to be. Gobies, zebra mussels, spiny waterfleas, and other stuff have caused some big changes.

[@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.

[@jonpeterson7133]

Can you make a crappie one?

[@FishingwithNat]

I plan to

[@deanmentjes7774]

Great video, thanks!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@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.

[@sammylacks4937]

I was hoping to learn where Yellow perch go in spring and summer as they spawn here in NC during winter when we can find and catch them. Ive never caught nor heard of the adults being caught in warmer months.

[@FishingwithNat]

They tend to hang around deep vegetation in the warmer months.

[@sammylacks4937]

@@FishingwithNat They tend to prefer rivers here. I lived on a large natural lake that does have a dam or wier that let's a small amount of water flow into the river behind dam. Winter is typically high or higher water time and far back as I can remember between Thanksgiving and Christmas redfin ( that's what we call Yellow Perch ) come up the river and swim over dam to spawn in lake. Daybreak to mid morning it was easy to catch 100 on really good days. There's several river communities downstream and not all the residents conform to local law so it's said only the fish that fit thru chicken wire are caught at dam. Possibly.. lol. I've caught them in other coastal rivers up to 1 3/4 lb. Footballs I call them because they are close to that size. Best days are the coldest we get. Summer I've caught 3 - 4 inch fry around bream beds. Never caught anything normally keepable

[@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.

[@UnderwaterFishFilms]

so interesting because they are closely related to the redfin perch we fish here in europe but still not completely the same, but the methods for fishing it and how they live are basically the same

[@FishingwithNat]

Very true

[@spicy_mcchikin6135]

Fantastic video

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks!

[@DodoBird157]

Will perch hit craplie jigs and curly tail grubs and crappie tubes?

[@FishingwithNat]

Yes, any of the above.

[@TheUnhousedWanderer]

Love this video. It's like Steve Rogers, but he only does bass

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it

[@jasonz7788]

Great job thanks

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you

[@macc12cj]

Good video 😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you!

[@freddyj5845]

Getting ready to fish them by Navy Pier. Already got one last month.

[@FishingwithNat]

Awesome. Lake Michigan makes some BIG perch if you can find them.

[@moto_45__]

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

[@FishingwithNat]

Tons of fun!

[@moose6144]

Thank you very good information

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@andrewdelk9876]

Thanks Nat!

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for the comment

[@kellyhoblin-lamorena7233]

Love these videos! Do a crappie one, please?

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@jimf1964]

We catch them in winter in 10’ of water. Only better eating fish is what we call white perch, but I don’t know if that’s the right term. We never saw them before, but once zebra mussels moved in, and the water became more clear, they seemed to displace the yellow perch

[@FishingwithNat]

Yeah white perch are common in areas of the Great Lakes now. They're actually more related to white bass than true perch. They are native to the East Coast of the U.S. but found their way into the Great Lakes when the Welland Canal was built to get ships around Niagara Falls (similar to how the sea lamprey got into the Great Lakes).

[@jimf1964]

@@FishingwithNat Huh, thanks. We had a cottage in upstate NY, and fished lake Champlain and its tributaries for decades, till the old man passed and the cottage was sold. Being from Montreal we also went on trips up north for trout too, thank god theyve never been affected! but now I only go there to small game hunt. We never knew for sure what to call them. In the fall wed fish around the marina, and with the right jig, we could fill 5 gallon buckets of yellow perch. They’d go crazy, amd we’d rich in a small aluminum boat until,our butts were numb. I’d go after schools of white perch, which would come to the surface in the evenings, on a little peddle boat, beer in the holder, and fly rod whipping, I’d follow them around the bay. Good times. Anyway, like I said, I don’t know if they just happened to come around after the zebra mussels changed the water, they actually fed on mussels, or if it was a coincidence and they just came in. Those yellow perch were something I caught from 5 yrs old to 50, so they sure got a place in my heart, but I had to admit, the white ones, with those hard, yet fragile mouths were more of a challenge to land, and really did taste better….but not by much. I haven’t been down for fishing in about 10 yrs though……geese, this post brought back some memories

[@FishingwithNat]

@@jimf1964 Thanks for sharing. Sounds like fun on a fly rod! 🙂

[@jimf1964]

@@FishingwithNat it was a total gas to paddle after them as they moved, and cast into them. An 8ft 7 weight line was a bit heavy for those fish, but needed on a big lake to get some distance.

[@RaulGarciaFishingandOutdoors]

My favorite fish

[@FishingwithNat]

Beautiful, fun, and delicious!

[@RaulGarciaFishingandOutdoors]

@@FishingwithNat yes !

[@R-angler]

Good video.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks

[@Ashaweshk]

the record was 5lbs? damn my dad caught a huge perch that was 7lbs in 98. I was only a wee lad then. That was just at a community fishing derby it was commercial lol.

[@FishingwithNat]

The record yellow perch, yes. Redfin perch (a.k.a. European perch) get larger.

[@f.a.n.4443]

V informational ty

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you liked the video - thanks

[@b.i.s9915]

Really like these vids

[@FishingwithNat]

Cool - thanks for the feedback!

[@neonwhitea.1548]

Wish we had perch in Kansas

[@FishingwithNat]

They are fun - time for a road trip?

[@Beginner_tackle]

Could a Texas rigged curly tail grub catch one?

[@FishingwithNat]

Yes, absolutely. You'll have the best luck with a small grub though. If you're tossing a 5/0 EWG hook, it will take a big perch to choke that down.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@Beginner_tackle You should be able to catch perch on that

[@FishingwithNat]

@@Beginner_tackle That's a great technique that I use a lot with various jigs/swimbaits.

[@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!

[@Gooeyooeye12]

Can you do about the walleye next time?

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@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...

[@rzambory2938]

Well Done Well Done !! Ty!!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the feedback 🙂

[@michaelburke5907]

When I was a kid the Friday night perch fish fry was the deal. Walleye even better. Sadly, nowadays it's mostly cod.

[@FishingwithNat]

All are good but perch and walleye are at a higher level!

[@Anio997]

Też uwielbiam łowić ryby subskrybuj zostawiam

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks

[@TokyoNightGirlLofi]

NICE👍💗💗💗

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks

[@warcraft8226]

thanks

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrLeatherFaceRB]

can you make life of bowfin pls

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@FishingwithNat]

In case you didn't see it, I did make a Life of the Bowfin video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6LWgnqNe8x-iJY

[@StuartHollingsead]

I have a pond in North Dakota that is around 30 feet deep in the center. I stocked it with Yellow perch so that I could fish there in the summer and when I retire. I was afraid that the pond would freeze solid and the fish would die. But they survived 2 winters already. I can hear them jump and I hear birds fishing. This summer I will fish for them for the first time. At 3 years old, they will still be small. I retire in 17 years. So that should be enough time to get a good population sorted out. I don't want to add any large predators. The pond is only about 80 acres. Maybe 70. I will watch out for the black spot disease. I am also thinking of putting in a bubbler for the winter time.

[@FishingwithNat]

No worries about it freezing solid. You'll likely never see more than 2 feet of ice on it, leaving plenty of water volume for the fish to survive the winter. If it's 70+ acres and 30ft deep, I don't think you need to install an aerator. It would just be extra maintenance and expense. Plenty of natural 70-acre lakes have abundant perch populations with no aerators needed.

[@douglasdoan7437]

How come no in California

[@FishingwithNat]

Their range just doesn't reach that far. A lot of species (plant and animal) are only on one side of a mountain range. The Rockies are a major obstacle.

[@Drock-n5l]

Perch chowder is pretty yummy

[@FishingwithNat]

You bet!

[@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.

[@Rubencull]

👍

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@WilliamScott-m8r]

I like.perch

[@FishingwithNat]

Me too

[@junniemotton283]

Never let them get dry

[@FishingwithNat]

Best to keep fish wet

[@philrichardson4984]

More perch tips for Alberta

[@FishingwithNat]

Perch fishing techniques are similar regardless of where you're catching them.

[@readelundy7620]

Best eating fish in my opinion!

[@FishingwithNat]

You bet!

[@Afters-j2g]

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

[@FishingwithNat]

Those are all good too!

[@TUKByV1]

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

[@MM-vv8mt]

As a kid fishing in Minnesota, we didn't have to try to catch yellow perch, we'd have to try to not catch them.

[@FishingwithNat]

Yeah they can be quite abundant if you get into a school of them.

[@williambrown238]

Perch Jerkin.....one of the easiest fish I've ever seen to catch.

[@FishingwithNat]

There are quite a few of them around here so they tend to be easy to catch.

[@Nirepa1995]

Playing my fishing game and went to an European lake costing 120 money. No i dont think any fish not taking bread or cheese but European perch liked my red worms for a beginner

[@FishingwithNat]

Cool. Perch love worms!

[@xaviermercado5646]

🤘

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@xaviermercado5646]

@@FishingwithNat your videos are great. I was never into fishing. I caught a few when I was little and that's about it. After 40 years, I pick up the rod again. Trying to find videos that teach you that get to the point is hard to find. Then I found your channel !! I have learned more about fishing in a couple of months than I would anywhere else. I really appreciate the videos you make and hope you don't stop anytime soon. I watch them religiously lol. Thanks again. You have made fishing fun. Do you sell any merchandise or stickers or anything? I would like to buy some if you do. Thanks again and keep up the good work. God bless

[@FishingwithNat]

@@xaviermercado5646 I don't have any merchandise but if you'd like to support the channel, you can donate via a Super Thanks comment or I have affiliate links in some of my video descriptions. You can click one of the links to my favorite gear and anything you buy from FishUSA after clicking the link will result in a small commission paid to my channel. This is a link to one of my favorite swimbaits alnk.to/9IdQt4r

[@phillipwinning2935]

Looks like a red fin (English Perch )

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@sammylacks4937]

Thats what we call them. Also Racoon Perch and Hardbacks

[@chucklucas8747]

It's a great eating fish that an chorkers

[@FishingwithNat]

It definitely is

[@Rennette-td2mq]

Musky love to eat em too

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@purikost4783]

dis guy is funny

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video. 🙂

[@JonasOutdoors20JL]

Good eating fish but crappie and walleye are better in my opinion

[@FishingwithNat]

Those are also great!

[@brucevonah511]

We call em ring(ed) perch. Least I do :)

[@FishingwithNat]

Call them ring perch. Call them delicious. They go by many names. 🙂

[@jonttu9186]

World record isnt 1,8kg, the current Finnish record for example is 2,54kg

[@FishingwithNat]

That's the record European perch, Perca fluviatilis. The world record I mentioned was for the yellow perch, Perca flavescens.

[@Denofu]

Kelta ahvenesta puhuttiin.

[@nemenjafishing]

Wow a American that knoas what a centimeter is 😂

[@FishingwithNat]

A centi-what?

[@earthq1077]

They are no where near easy to catch

[@FishingwithNat]

It can really depend on the lake and the season. Sometimes they are abundant and easy to catch, and other times it's hard to get even one.

[@earthq1077]

​@@FishingwithNat I'm just ranting about pressured ones, I even casted tiny flies into their school but watched them chasing and not biting. Those fish can be insanely smart.

[@DavidBehne-px7jr]

Well im not. Fishing again

[@FishingwithNat]

Why not?

[@22juni]

Please look up the facts. The worlds biggest Perch is much bigger than 1,8 kg. The biggest (with evidence) is 3,75 kg

[@FishingwithNat]

You're referring to the European perch. This video is about yellow perch (Perca flavescens) so that's the record size that I referenced.

[@samersies]

if you catch fish an eat em than you save money.

[@FishingwithNat]

That's true!

[@Suckerfish1738]

Wait, panfish?

[@FishingwithNat]

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

[@Suckerfish1738]

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

[@FishingwithNat]

@@Suckerfish1738 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 ?