Trophy Perch

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey fellow perch jerkers! Let's talk about jumbos! First of all....what is a 'jumbo' perch? How big? Most folks would call a 12 inch, roe-filled yellow perch a jumbo. Some standards are smaller, and some larger yet on these delicious fish. To me, honest, one pound fish are indeed jumbos.

I have been reading a lot about the Great Lakes yellow perch populations and the huge numbers of big fish as seen on other sites. I have seen incredible fish up to 16 inches. However, they do not seem to have the body dynamics and weight as do fish from other lakes and reservoir around the country.

In my home state of Maryland, it takes a 14 inch perch to get a citation...a fish that biologist tell us needs 9 years to attain that size in tidal waters. They spawn in Feb and March, and the MD DNR has just allowed the keeping of 10 fish per angler this past spring after several years of limited and no-harvest regs.

For my money, I like Deep Creek Lake in extreme western Maryland. I have caught three individual fish from there that have weighed over 2 pounds, including my heaviest at 2 lbs 4 oz. and 15 .25 inches with a 12.25 inch girth. My longest fish was 15.75 inches, from Lake Carroll in southern PA. and got me the top 'catch and release' entry in the 2009 In Fisherman Master Angler Awards Program. Cool!

So guys, where else are the big perch? Piney Run, in central MD has giants, and so does Lake Moomaw in southwest Virginia, with their former state record at 2-7. Last spring, a 3 lb 2 oz fish came from Fanagan Reservior.

Jumbos, anyone?

[John Sheehan]

Well I don't catch Jumbos in the small lakes I fish in my small boat but good for those that do.A jumbo for me is 12&1/2 " for a yellow and maybe the same size for a white Perch. Possibly if I fish Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood lake,Pompton Lakes and Monksville reservoir more often I can up the size on what I've been catching.

[chris]

we get some nice ones in bantam lake in north west ct. i have have heard of some pushing 2 lbs in candlewood lake and black pond (state record pond at 2lbs 13 oz) here in ct

[Glen Wagley]

There are several reservoirs in Utah that have decent yellow perch populations. The problem here has been the boom and bust cycle of perch. Just this year the regulations were changed from a 10 perch limit to 50 perch limit per angler. I guess it took a few years of anglers complaining to the DWR that only dinks were being caught and a ton of them at that. I've only consistently seen jumbos (12-14 inchers) caught regularly from Starvation Reservoir in the eastern part of Utah. It is one of those reservoirs way out in the middle of no where. It doesn't get a ton of fishing pressure. The reservoir seems to have a good predator/prey balance along with good forage. Walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and carp are the species to be found. Lots of crawdads as well. The bass from the particular body of water have extremely sweet meat as a result of feasting on the crawdad population.

[John Sheehan]

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/gtp-weeperch-2-1

[John Sheehan]

I've  heard of 2 lbers in Monksville reservoir ,a body of water five  minutes from my house . I wll be targeting big Perch there thru the ice this season. Greenwood lake has some biggies too.I just gotta learn to catch them bigger ones!

Jim,your post got me psyched,thanks!

Congratulations on your citation again!Over 15 " and over 2 lbs. That is really excellent!

[Howard Webster]

Lake Carmi produces some big perch .  Most people fish for them with tip ups with 3 to 4 inch shiners in about 30 feet of water. 

[John Sheehan]

How big are you talking Howard?3-4 "shiners are a big Perch bait.Got a few fatty yellows at Greenwood lake last year on shiners and I'm anxious to give Greenwood another try thru the ice for bigger Perch. Lake Carmi have Walleyes too?

[Howard Webster]

The idea is to get 12 inch perch or better and not be bothered with smaller perch hitting the bait.    I use the standard perch bait myself.    The larger ones are fished wounded or freash dead.   When we could use smelt in Vermont they were a popular pike bait i have seen perch grab a smelt they could not swallow and be caught with out ever reaching the hook

[Jim Gronaw]

Howard...the big bait-big perch theory is so true! When we used to troll for stripers at Piney Run Lake with 3 to 5 inch golden shiners, we would sometimes catch a goliath perch. The bigger ones, 12 to 14 inches, had no problem handling the shiners.  I have taken my best Piney Run perch, up to 13 3/4 inches while fishing for bigger game. However, body weights were not up there with fish caught in other lakes during Feb. You can't launch a boat at PR until April 1 and there is no ice fishing permitted.

I am certain that many 2 lb class perch are spawning in this outstanding lake when anglers can not legally get to them.

Bring on Deep Creek Lake! Three friends of mine got 28 up there on Tues. They were selective, keeping only 12 inch and up fish, with a near 15, near 2 lber being the top dog. Also in the mix were several 10 in bluegills and massive pumpkinseeds.  Rapala Jigging Raps #5, 15 to 20 ft deep, right off the bottom, tipped w/waxie, at the McHenry arm of the lake.

[John Sheehan]

Ha ha thats awesome .CATCH EM WHILE THEY'RE CHOKIN' HOWARD!LOL!

[John Cachel]

I know Devil Lake in ND have some large fat perch! I think Large poerch is little go down at Devil Lake because of cycle or heavy fishing pressure but I don't know! I caught my personal best perch is 14 inch and 3 12" perch this month on ice fishing! All released because my goal is 16 inch for my wall! Lake is my sercet because its small lake but deep! Average is about 25 feet deep! Low number but average is about 11 inch! 4 perch a day is good day! I fish this lake that I feel is good chance to catch 16 inch for my wall than many lakes that you can catch many but small perch! World record yellow perch from NJ but years ago! Something is not make sense! Lake Michigan by Chicago have some nice perch but over 2 lbs is very rare!

[John Sheehan]

NEW JERSEY RECORDS:That's right John according to NJFW records in the year 1865 a historical record 4#4oz. Yellow Perch was caught. (??REALLY... HMMM I  can't help being skeptical)in 1989 the 'NEW

RECORD ' 2#6OZ. YP was caught (that seems more realistic)

 

3#1OZ. White Perch ,caught in 1989,is IGFA certified .