Upper Bay Yellow Perch Fishing Hot!

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Northern
Location: Perryville

New Years Day, 1/1/11, I had the pleasure to start the year fishing for yellow perch with many of my friends in the Susquehanna River out of Perryville. Just as it was this time last year, the Upper Bay yellow perch bite is on and the fish are gorging themselves. Many of the perch we caught still had minnows in their mouths or were spitting up food as we unhooked them! We were using artificial lures such as Mr Twisters, little Bass Assassins and/or small sassy shads. The rig was a basic top and bottom rig with up to 2 oz to help keep contact w/the bottom. An ultra-lite rod and reel spooled with 10 lb braid is what I was using. We were catching perch in water depths ranging from 25 to 65 feet! My friend Mike and I caught about 100 fish and I'd say more than half were 9 inches or longer but we didn't keep anything under 10 inches. The longest perch we caught was over 13 inches! That one went home with us along with 7 other "bucket-worthy" yellow perch. What a fantastic fishery! The yellow perch are back! Go get some! BTW, I participate in the Volunteer Yellow Perch Survey and I encourage others to do so as well.