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The Yellow Perch!!!!  Wow, what an awesome species of fish. Lake Winnebago is proud to have this great fish, and has given up some monsters over the years.The Yellow Perch ranges in sizes from shad size all the way to 16 inches in length. The most common size for these critters on the lake is about 8-9 inches.

This fish can be caught on anything from crankbaits or on a simple hook and worm, under a bobber. Some of there favorite foods include: Redworms,Small Leeches, Crayfish, Gizzard-Shad, Wax Worms, Night Crawlers,Helgramites, Thunderbugs, and of course plain old wiggler worms.

Some proven baits have been: Jigs,Swedish Pimples, Small Crankbaits, Small Twister Tails, Hook and Slip Bobber presentation. Let's now take a look at some spots that have been known in the past for giving up a few Yellow Perch over the years.

One word of advice though...sshhhhhh. The locals do not like to give up where or how they catch these critters, so do not tell anyone how you found out about their little hot spots, ok?

Fond Du Lac: North of Supple Marsh there is an area of water which goes from 4 to 7 feet in depth. This has been known to hold perch all throughout the year. Small hooks and slip bobbers seem to work the best. Try tipping your hooks or jigs with a small piece of night crawler, or helgramite if they are in season. If you start to catch a lot of sheephead or smallies, try using a little heavier jig. I start out using a 1/32 oz. then if I get fish I am not targeting, I go to a 1/16 oz jig, it seems to help. Approx. 2 miles east of Andrson creek there is a nice reef that holds perch from late June to early July. Locate the reef, and try casting a jig tipped with a small piece of crawler. Remember to make sure that you cover the hook with your bait.

Calumetville: Approx 3/4 of a mile out from here, there is a long rocky point that holds fish all season. The best action for perch seems to be near the edges of this long and narrow point. Try using Swedish pimples here, tipped with either a thunderbug, or a helgramite. Best time of the day seems to be when the light conditions are low or overcast.

Neenah: The weed growth in and around the lighthouse seems to hold perch in the area all season long. Try using thunderbugs, or casting a small rapala in this area. In the bay near the Rec Center, the water is real shallow, and weeds really grow well here. you will have to fight through the sheephead, but there is a plentiful stock of perch and panfish in this area. If you see a cluster of boats in this area, guess what? they are perch jerking!

Harrison: The long stretch of shoreline from Harrison to Stockbridge is a real popular spot for people chasing perch. This area seems to bloom when the algae does. Try using a bright colored jig, tipped with a wiggler or a piece of crawler. Keep your bait right near the bottom, and work it back towards the boat. Do not forget to cast under docks or boats that are present. Perch will seek out shelter during sunny and hot days, and this area seems to hold quite a few perch and boats. I like to fish this area when the sun is high, and it is hotter then blazes outside. Best chance is when you have a wind from the west, blowing in towards shore. this puts bait fish near shore, and the perch will follow, where the food supply is.

Menasha: In front of the Northshore golf course there is a sunken island. Look for the golf course lodge and go straight out until you see it on your graph. You will go from 14 feet to 5 feet in depth. This area holds perch, but not a lot. But when you do catch one, it is usually over 10+ inches. I think the fish that use this hump, come in at evening to feed, then go back to the mud flats during the day. If you get into them here, you will have a nice bag of fillets. I like to use willow jigs, tipped with wax worms, or a small leech here.?

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