How to recognise it
- Deep-bodied, with two separate dorsal fins and 6–8 evenly spaced dark bars from the back down the sides.
- Olive-green back, golden yellow or brassy sides, white belly.
- A walleye is a relative with large teeth and no regular bars; a perch's teeth are small.
- The rear edge of the gill cover is saw-toothed.
- Usually 6–8 in.
Habitat: where it lives
- Mainly a lake fish: clear, cool, open lakes and ponds, and a few slow streams with rocky bottoms.
- It prefers cooler water, so the best fishing is usually deep.
Habits: behavior, spawning and growth
- Moves in schools, often of hundreds.
- Deep by day; comes inshore to feed in late afternoon or evening.
- Feeds mostly on the bottom, with a slow, deliberate bite.
- Spawns just after the ice goes out, in April or early May at 45–52°F, laying strings of eggs on sand, gravel or plants.
Where and when
- If a spot gives nothing after a few tries, move: you're looking for a school.
- In Pennsylvania, afternoons in March and April, then early morning and late evening in summer.
- In winter, through the ice. Ice must be at least 4 in thick to walk on.
Bait and lures
Lures
- Small spinners, 1/32–1/8 oz
- Small twister-tail jigs
- Small crankbaits in white, yellow or green
Why these baits work
- It feeds on the bottom on insect larvae and worms, so a worm or grub on or near the bottom is what it's looking for.
- It also eats minnows, so a small spinner or crankbait works when a school is feeding higher up.
Rod and reel setups
Grouped by lure fishing (artificial baits) and bait fishing (live or natural bait).
Lure fishing
1Small lure
Searching for a school.
- Rod
- Light spinning rod
- Reel
- Small spinning reel
- Line
- 2–4 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A 1/32–1/8 oz spinner, twister-tail jig or small crankbait in white, yellow or green.
- Rod
- A short, whippy jigging rod
- Reel
- Small spinning reel
- Line
- 2–4 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A small hook with a worm or minnow, worked slowly near the bottom through a drilled hole.
Bait fishing
- Rod
- Any light rod; a fly rod or even a handline works in summer
- Reel
- Small spinning reel
- Line
- 2–4 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A size 4–8 hook with a worm or grub, on or near the bottom. Give the slow bite time.
- Rod
- A short, whippy jigging rod
- Reel
- Small spinning reel
- Line
- 2–4 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A small hook with a worm or minnow, worked slowly near the bottom through a drilled hole.
On the table: cleaning and cooking
Step-by-step cleaning, keeping fish fresh and eating safely are in the handbook.
Size and bag limits vary by state, species and lake. Current limits: Texas (TPWD); elsewhere, your state's fish and wildlife agency. Check before you keep a fish.
Sources
