Fly Fishing for yellow perch and Pickerel

[KJosenhans]

For pickerel, I like Joe Bruce's Bullet Head Darter. You can get these from Tochterman's in Baltimore (410) 327-6942 or direct from Joe at http://www.joebruce.net The other two flies are color variations of the Cactus Striper, which is a larger version of a Crystal Bugger. If you wish to slow the sink rate, substitute bead chain for dumbell eyes. My go-to fly for stripers as well.

[-JP-]

Thanks for all the help guys! Unfortunately I havnt had the time to take advantage of the great weather and go out and try any of the suggestions. I did get out and practice my casting on water at a local beach but with no chance of catching anything just for practice. I definitly plan on taking a guide out in the summer to help with my casting and basic understanding of fly fishing! Im sure there will be many more questions to come in the future!! Thanks again.

[Chesapeake TJAM]

Wow, great tips fellas. I am starting turn my attention to other species besides rock and want to get more into fly. I fished the keys on fly when I lived down there but put the long pole away when I moved to MD. Now I want to get back into it. I've been trying to tie my own flies so this post has been most helpful. Thanks!
Mike

[bigjim5589]

TJam, depending on what type of fly fishing you did in Fl, if you have flies already, then many can be used up here just as well. One of the first types of flies I tied for LM bass were Tarpon flies, although I didn't use the stout hooks that are used for Tarpon. The patterns still work, and Rockfish & Pickerel will eat them as well. Just need to adopt different hooks to the style. I tie a lot on spinnerbait or straight shank worm hooks for bass & Pickerel, and O'Shaughnessy hooks for Rockfish. Seatrout will eat them too if you're fishing some place where they're around!

I tie up many types of Bonefish & other flats style flies, that I use for White & Yellow Perch, Croakers & Flounder. Plus, I get down to the SC coast sometimes, so I have them ready in case I can find some Redfish.
Some of my favorite crawfish imitations for Smallmouths in the local streams, are "flats" style flies in colors more suited to mimic craws.

The Shad flies I posted work on a variety of fish too, even bass!

[shiloh]

Topwater divers and bugs

[HenryL]

My favorite fly for yellow perch is one that replicates their young. A Clouser with the following colors- yellow bottom, a mix of red and gold flash in the middle, topped off with chartreuse and an even darker green on top. When completed, hold the back (tail) of the fly and make 3 or 4 stripes with a Magic Marker. Kills em. Hang on and good luck. Let us know how they work for ya!

[Tracker12]

Last year I stopped by Anglers and they had the flys that resembled grass shrimp. I picked upa few and they workerd great. Looked something like a short bonefish fly which I have also used. I also use the same ones I tie up for shad. Greens and white with a little falsh are best.

[Rtifs]

I’d love to catch them on the fly. The only place I can really do it would be around Wayson’s Corner on the Pax.

How deep do the YP hold? Do you have to get the fly to the bottom or will they rise to the middle of the water column to get it?

Also how similar are they to trout? For example, will indicator-nymphing work?