Perch are found in just about every lake in Ontario and in Gowganda Lake they can be found in great numbers and big sizes. Perch in Gowganda Lake get to the size of what’s referred to as Jumbo Perch. Just after ice-out in late April and May, perch are plentiful near shore, where they spawn.
Where is the best perch fishing in Ontario?
You can catch them from Lake Nipissing and Lake Temiskaming in Northeastern Ontario, all the way across the northern half of the province to Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River in the Northwest.
When can you fish perch in Ontario?
Catch length is limited to no more than 1 greater than 61cm with none greater than 86cm. Walleye and Yellow Perch fishing are permitted from January 1st to March 15th and the third Saturday in May to October 15th. Walleye catch-and-keep limits are 2 for Sport licence holders and 1 for Conservation licence holders.
What is the best place to catch perch?
You’ll find perch wherever there is fresh water. Look for areas with natural structures: weeds, dams, submerged objects, islands, inlets, rocks, reeds and bridges — any place where plants can grow. Plants attract bait fish and bait fish attract sport fish, so those are the areas you want to look for perch.
What month is best for perch fishing?
Perch fishing is usually best in the early morning or evening hours during late spring and early summer and late afternoon or evening in late summer. In autumn, both morning and late afternoon-evening provide excellent fishing. In the natural lakes, the best fishing is usually from late summer until late fall.
How many perch are you allowed to keep in Ontario?
rainbow trout: 5. splake: 5. walleye or sauger combined; 6. yellow perch: 100.
What time of year is best for perch?
Fishing for Perch
- During late spring and early summer, early morning and early evening hours are best.
- During late summer, late afternoon and evening is best.
- In autumn, the best times are morning, and late afternoon evening.
- During the winter, the low light of late afternoon-evening is good.
What bait is good for perch?
Best Baits
Larger perch prefer worms, other small fish and fish fry. Effective baits include lob worms, earthworms, maggots and casters. When fishing for impressive specimens between 2-3 lbs (0.9-1.4 kg), dead baits of small fish such as minnow are a great choice, as is spinning with artificial lures or spoons.
How big do perch get in Ontario?
In most lakes, Perch average about 9 inches while in Lake Mattagami; the Perch average an impressive 10 to 14 inches. They are like small Walleyes. The Perch in our lake taste fantastic. The meat is white and firm and due to the cold water, the fish are free of worms and other parasites.
Are perch hard to catch?
Abundant, hard-fighting and quick to bite, these feisty little panfish are common throughout much of the northern United States and Canada, where they provide easy fishing for novice and experienced anglers alike. Yellow perch are fun to catch, but they are also prized as some of the tastiest fish in fresh water.
How do you get perch fast?
The best set-up is the hook sinker with a worm bait. Although you can also use a spinner tipped with a worm or a small jig head with a worm or minnow bait. Perch fishing with worms tends to produce the best results, but maggots, prawns and lobworms are also amongst the best bait for catching perch.
What lake has the biggest perch?
Lake Cascade
On the jumbo side of things, Lake Cascade, Idaho, remains the greatest spot in North America to put a 2.5-pound or even 3-pound fish on the ice.
How do you target perch?
Another method for finding perch is to troll a small worm tipped spinner rig with a bottom bouncer until you catch some. After you locate them, it’s time to anchor up and do a little vertical fishing. Small jigs and jigging spoons tipped with leeches, chunks of night crawlers or minnows seem to work best.
How old is a 6 inch perch?
Males and females mature when they are 1-2 years old or at a length of 15 centimeters (6 inches) long.
Do perch like deep or shallow water in the winter?
At first ice, perch can be scattered anywhere, but by mid-winter most will be on mid- to deep flats. They’ll stay there until the last weeks of the season, before moving close to their spawning sites. Shallow flats, weedy bays and reedy shorelines will produce some of the year’s best perch fishing during ice out.
What is the biggest perch caught in Ontario?
Size
- length: 15-30 centimetres (6-12 inches)
- weight: 0.35 kilograms (0.75 pounds)
- Ontario record: 1.1 kilograms (2.4 pounds)
Can you lure fish for perch all year round?
Perch are one of the few predator species we can genuinely target all year round, so I will try to cover how my approach changes through out the seasons across different venues.
Is it legal to fish at night in Ontario?
Fishing at Night
34 (1) No person shall sport fish during the period between sunset and sunrise.
What depth of water do perch like?
Perch prefer to spawn in shallower water of between 3 and 10 feet with an optimal water depth of 6 feet.
How deep do you fish for perch in the winter?
The best structures usually lie adjacent to moderately deep water, typically in the 25- to 40-foot range. In these picture-postcard lakes, expect to find the perch close to the bottom. And even though they’ll still move about, it’s usually around the structures, not away from them.
Can perch be caught in winter?
As we move from autumn into winter and the days are cold and crisp, new fishing opportunities make themselves available. This is the time for Perch!