Complete Guide to Different Baits You Can Use to Catch Perch

Fish baits refer to anything used to attract and catch fish. They can range from live (natural) baits, such as: worms, leeches, crayfish, minnows, grasshoppers, and crickets, which are excellent options for the freshwater context. Sea worms, shrimp, eel, squid strips, and fish pieces are perfect for saltwater fishing.

Traditionally, fishermen used worms, insects, and small baits. Modern options include plastic baits and electronic lures. Despite the many bait choices, not all are suitable for catching perch. It is essential to determine the ideal bait for perch and the fishing waters you plan to explore. In the next sections, we examine some of the top baits you can use to catch perch.

Perch Fishing Baits That Work

Perch are relatively small but remain a prized catch for anglers and can be caught in large numbers. You can catch top specimen and perch are agile predators that will put a good fight, so the catch is often quite satisfying. Also, perch fishing is rewarding all year round, although they tend to spawn in spring and get bigger during winter. Here are the top baits to use:

1.     Live Minnows

Very few types of bait can outperform live minnows. They are arguably the most effective options when you want to catch larger perch, have been around for many years for competition, sports, and recreational fishing. Perch can’t seem to resist struggling live baits, so you’ll never go wrong with minnows.

Advantages:

  • Probably the most effective bait you can use to catch perch
  • Can be used to catch larger perch

Disadvantages:

  • It’s hard to find live minnows
  • You might have to catch them by yourself
  • Keeping minnows alive is difficult, and dead minnows may not work as well as live ones
  • Minnows can get off the hook
  • Live minnow baits are illegal in some places so make sure you check the local regulations

2.     Yellow Perch Parts

Perch love to eat smaller perch parts. The best part is the eyes because it shines, but you can also use lower jaw meat. Simply catch some perch using minnows or worms and use a knife to remove the eye and lower jaw. Next, hook the perch parts and drop them in the water.

Advantages:

  • Free and readily available
  • You’ll never run out of bait provided you keep catching perch
  • Effective in catching small and large perch

Disadvantages:

  • You must catch at least one perch first
  • Cutting the pieces can get messy and the dorsal spines also make handling perch difficult without hurting yourself
  • Doesn’t stay on the hook like other baits

3.     Night Crawlers

Nightcrawlers are an excellent option for perch fishing and relatively inexpensive compared to other baits. They are easy to keep alive and readily available in stores. Also, hooking nightcrawlers is very easy. Simply thread one on the perch rig and drop it in the water.

Advantages:

  • Cheap and easy to keep alive
  • Stays on the hook
  • Easy to find

Disadvantages:

  • Require refrigeration or a damp place to stay alive
  • Threading the crawlers is time consuming compared to other baits, and some people find it difficult

4.     Honey Worms

Honey worms are some of the most convenient fishing baits to use for perch. You can also catch bass, trout, and crappies, although they are more effective for perch, which can’t resist them. The worms are easy to rig, inexpensive, and mess-free. What’s more, honey worms don’t dry out, so you can keep them for as long as you want.

Advantages:

  • Inexpensive (about $4 for 50 worms)
  • Resilient and stay well on the hook, catching multiple fish
  • Not messy at all (perfect for kids too)
  • They never dry out

Disadvantages:

  • They are not live baits, so you won’t get any movement in the water
  • Sometimes perch will go for natural baits and avoid motionless honey worms

5.     Gulp Bait

The gulp bait has been around for many years and is the closest you can get to live bait. While they won’t perform as well as live minnows, the artificial gulp bait looks like minnows and are incredibly effortless to use. You won’t worry about the bait drying or sliding off the hook. Some also feature added scents and oils to attract fish.

Advantages:

  • No need to keep them alive
  • Last for several months, or even years
  • Easy to hook and rig
  • Offer great action when you add jigging
  • Nearly as effective as live minnows

Disadvantages:

  • Expensive than most options
  • Come with scents that spread everywhere

Feeding Habits and the Best Time to Catch Perch

There are many types of perch, so it is essential to know which schools you are targeting. In general, perch do best when water plants are abundant. They tend to feed on worms, plankton, minnows, and aquatic insects. However, there are very few items that a hungry perch will avoid. Perch have big eyes suited to feeding under low light conditions. They’ll seek out shades and cover during the day when there’s more light. This includes undercut banks and trees and reed beds. However, perch will move from one place to another as the sun’s angle changes.

Dawn and dusk are the best time to spot a group of perch seeking out their prey. They hunt in groups, unlike solitary ambush predators. Adult perch are known to take small, deliberate bites, and the young ones are generally bottom feeders. You’ll get better results in the early morning and evening hours when fishing during late spring and early summer. Late afternoon and evening suit late summer fishing, while mornings and late afternoon are the best time when fishing in autumn. During winter, we recommend low light periods between late afternoon and evening.

Key Takeaways

There’s no doubt live bait is the simplest and best way to catch perch. It is still possible to fish using plastic baits. However, live worm baits produce the best results. You can also use prawns, maggots, and lobworms, which are perch favorites. Here are some key takeaways when using live bait:

  • The Set-Up: The best set-up for live bait perch fishing features a hook sinker and worm. Spinner tripped with a small jig head, worm, or minnow bait are also effective. When using worms, hook the tail instead of the head. This will provide more movement, which is what you want when fishing for perch.
  • The Lure: Perch have small mouths, so use a small, lightweight lure, preferably 1/32 ounce or 1/64 ounce lead heads. Perch are also attracted to bright colors, so find a style with flashy colors.
  • The Bait: Perch aren’t picky eaters, so you have a wide range of live baits to choose from. We recommend small minnows, wax worms, insect larvae (maggots), and grubs. You can also use perch eyes, crayfish meat.
  • Feeding: It is always a good idea to feed the perch by spreading some maggots or worms over the area you intend to fish. Just make sure not to go overboard, considering perch are small and will fill up quickly.

Summary

There are many types of baits, including live and artificial options you can use to catch perch. Some are perch food while others are artificial lures that attract fish to take a bite. However, not all options are legal everywhere. Make sure you go through local regulations to determine if certain baits are accepted in your area. If you are purchasing the bait, choose reputable stores that can guarantee reliable options. Also, choose the best time to go fishing, depending on the season.

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