Fly Fishing for yellow perch and Pickerel

[-JP-]

I have just started to fly fish and have searched all over the internet for info on what kind of flys to use for Perch and Pickerel. Would love to hone my skills over the winter and a couple yellow perch sandwiches would be nice too Any info you guys could give me or sites that would help me out would be great! Thanks

[HJS]

Both are bigtime minnow eaters. So streamers should do well, chartreuse over white will do. Think ~2" for perch and 3"-4" for pickerel. You need a heavy tippet so avoid bite-offs by pickerel, like maybe 8 inches of 20# or heavier will do nicely. Maybe shrimp pattern might work for yperch.

[-JP-]

Thank you for the info. I was headed in the streamer direction but didn't think about the heavier tippet. I have only fly fished a couple times and just bought my own gear. Have always fished with other people and they set everything up never realized how involved setting everything up was. Plan on taking some lessons this spring but can't wait to get but and practice casting somewhere other then my yard!

[sunfish king]

You'll probably want sinking line for the yellow perch....maybe a 250 grain.

[bigjim5589]

JP, since you're new to fly fishing, I'm guessing you're not tying your own flies yet. So, there are many fly patterns that will work for YP & Pickerel, but a good basic selection would consist of Clouser Minnows & Woolly Buggers. Primarily in light colors like white or yellow. Chartreuse & white as HJS has mentioned is a great all around combination for many species. I also agree with his size range, and that would give you flies tied on size 6, 4 or 2 hooks. With the buggers, there are many variations, and some will be weighted in different manner, such as bead heads or coneheads. All have some use, and slight differences that effect how they sink. A good variety will fit most situations & most waters. Clouser Minnows can also have some variation to them, but for the most part, the amount of weight is all you need to be concerned with. Buy a few in each size that have been tied with lead or brass barbell eyes, and a few tied with bead chain eyes, and you'll again have most waters covered. One warning about heavily weighted flies, and especially those with metal parts. They can damage or break a fly rod if you should accidently strike it while casting. Too often they'll damage the rod, then they break at some point later, so be very careful.

If you have a sinking line, another good & old streamer pattern is a Black Ghost, which has a white feather wing. Very popular pattern, and can be found in most fly shops, most online fly suppliers & catalogs. Again, sizes as previously mentioned. Works well on Bass, Crappie's & White Perch too.

Hope this helps!

BTW, here are some shad flies I tied. They will also all work for various panfish species & Pickerel. Most of these are not named flies, but there are similar flies that have known names, so simply compare!



I tied flies commercially for many years, so if you need advise, feel free to ask!

[Flyguy]

I fly fish on the Severn for pickeral and my best fly has been a black, dark brown or olive streamer with copper flashing. I tie my own flies so finding one in a dark color with copper flashing is sometimes not easy. I like streamers over clousers because when the water is cold I like my flies to suspend after making a strip rather than dip and dive. Minnows in cold water move much slower than in the warmer water months. I like to throw my fly, let it slowly sink 6 inches or so, then twich....pickeral love to come up to strike. Good Luck

[saltfly]

I’ve fished all over for both yellow perch and pickerel. The three flies I’ve had the most success on , have been the yellow over white clousers with sliver tinsel, the all yellow with gold tinsel and the Joe Bruce bullet head in white. All in sizes from 4 to 1/0 and they can be purchased from most fly shops if you haven’t learned to tie your own. But as you can see each person, will have their favorites. I think the most important part. Is finding the fish. If in the Balto. Area. The Magothy and the Severn are good most years, but most rivers from the Sucky south, have them in the upper areas. Like Brady has pointed out, their in the Pax and Potomac. On the shore, most of the ponds have them. Also a number of the rivers on the shore have them. They like bass, love structure. So fishing in and around downed trees and docks. Over old grass beds as well as Lilly pad fields to start, will at least get you in to where they maybe. I’ve been finding them in the upper areas of shore ponds, this time of the year. They have also been along the deeper areas. Like the old stream channels. Even though these old channels are not that deep. They still have edges where the fish like to hold. So fishing where their doesn’t seem to be cover, also works. Just don’t fish the shore line turn around and fish out in the middle will also work. The water I’ve been fishing in the ponds has been only 2 to 3 feet deep. So don’t let really shallow water turn you off. But the most important thing. Is having a boat to get you where you want to be. Most areas don’t rent boats this time of year. Also having a ramp on the water you want to fish helps. On ponds a canoe will get you into waters that don’t have ramps. Even on rivers like the Magothy. A canoe will work in the protected waters. If you can find a place to put it in. As for lines. I fish floating as well as sink tip lines. Both have their use. Hope this helps.structure

[capt.frankdanner]

It may not be a good idea to go out on your own before getting some good casting lessons. Trying to learn fly casting without good instruction can be an exercise in frustration, and develop bad habits, which will be diffucult to break. Take a lesson from a good instructor first.

[dalton]

Don't forget a bottle of Jack for the pickerel.

[saltfly]