When targeting yellow perch, tip your jigs with the biggest live bait you can find. Large perch get that way by eating big meals. (Shutterstock image)
February 17, 2025
By Kade Gewanter
For die-hard anglers, cold temps and piercing winds can’t dim the thrill of being on the water. In fact, when lakes freeze over, the bite can really heat up for a number of top-tier game fish—especially white and yellow perch.
While perch are abundant in lakes, ponds and rivers across the Northeast, we’re lucky to have a handful of spots that serve up trophy-sized fish at a jaw-dropping rate. So, fire up the auger and get ready to experience some of the best fishing action the region has to offer.
Chaumont Bay, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, has no size or limit restrictions on yellow perch. (Photo courtesy of Louis Pagnotti) SUPER STRATEGIES Most Northeast states allow anglers to use up to five lines while ice-fishing, giving you the flexibility to combine tip-ups and jigging to effectively explore a body of water. Be sure to check local regulations, though, as line limits can vary by state and waterbody.
Tip-ups should be rigged with a heavy-duty Dacron or nylon mainline to prevent freezing, followed by a high-quality fluorocarbon leader in the 8- to 12-pound range. If northern pike are present, use a thicker leader to avoid breakoffs. Attach a No. 4 or 6 octopus-style hook with a split shot about a foot above to help get your bait down.
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For bait, use smaller fatheads, common shiners, rosy reds and emerald shiners where available. Perch can inhale larger baits, so don’t hesitate to use bigger live specimens when targeting trophy fish.
To increase your chances of catching large perch, always pack a few jigging rods in your Jet Sled. Aim for rods between 18 and 24 inches, paired with a 500- to 1000-size reel featuring a smooth drag. Use a dedicated ice line to minimize ice build-up for smooth line flow.
Lake Winnipesaukee’s white perch are more nomadic than their yellow cousins. When not in search of food, they’ll often settle in deep basins. (Photo courtesy of Joe Andersen) Jigs should include a mix of aggressive hard baits for quick movement and smaller tungsten jigs or soft plastics. If the fish are finicky, pack mousies or maggots for extra scent and attraction.
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Additionally, advancements in ice-fishing technology have given anglers a range of tools, from time-tested flasher systems to cutting-edge, ice-fishing-specific sonar units. These innovations can help anglers quickly and efficiently break down a body of water.
Be sure to always stay on the move when on the hunt for perch. If they are around, odds are it will not take long before a few will come topside. If in the presence of a lot of smaller perch, a subtle depth change, often to slightly deeper water, will be needed to trigger bites from larger fish.
WINTER MOVEMENTS Once the first ice arrives, anglers can find perch congregating around the last patches of green weeds, typically near the edges of weed lines close to deep water where they feed on insects and baitfish. As the ice thickens and oxygen levels drop, perch will start migrating toward deeper water, with prime spots being the ends of extended points and main-basin mud flats. During this time, their diet mainly consists of aquatic insects and dormant crayfish.
As late ice hits and temperatures just begin to rise, perch will once again move into shallower waters in preparation for the spawn. This period is marked by intense feeding and can provide non-stop action with a surplus of large specimens in the mix.
5 TOP PERCH PICKS Ice-fishing hotspots in the Northeast. Chaumont Bay Believe it or not, the Chaumont Bay area along the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario, otherwise known as the Golden Crescent, is in fact the largest freshwater bay in the world. Famed as a hot spot for gargantuan walleyes and mega smallmouths, Chaumont Bay is also home to a world-class yellow perch fishery, with fish putting on size thanks to practically limitless room to roam and a nutrient-rich food source of emerald shiners and gobies.
Breaking down a chunk of water this size can be intimidating. However, Louis Pagnotti and his team of ace guides that comprise Chaumont Masters Outfitters (chaumontmasters.com ) are experts on the fishery and specialize in providing anglers with fully guided experiences along with top-flight accommodations.
“Perch can be found consistently throughout our waters almost all season long, but the best times, especially for jumbos, is late fall through the ice season,” says Pagnotti. “Chaumont Bay is pretty unique as there is no size or quantity limits, which is a bit of an indication of the robust population.”
Finger Lakes New York’s Finger Lakes have long ranked among North America’s top multi-species fisheries. Covering a combined 9,000 square miles and featuring 11 glacially carved lakes with narrow profiles and ultra-deep basins, the area offers endless opportunities for anglers.
One species that often falls through the cracks is the yellow perch. I was able to connect with Drake Lortscher, manager of Docs Tackle (229bass.com ) in Honeoye, N.Y., and Finger Lakes expert and National Walleye Tour Angler Craig Sleeman for even more insight into the perch fishing found in the region. Sleeman identifies several key factors that set the Finger Lakes apart from other areas.
“The Finger Lakes provide a range of depths, water temperatures and structure like weed beds, rocky points and drop-offs,” he says. “The lakes are rich in small fish, insects and other food sources, and the water quality in the Finger Lakes is generally high, supporting the growth of both the perch population and their food sources.”
Lake Winnipesaukee Many waters throughout the region have targetable populations of both yellow and white perch, but no fishery delivers “humpies,” as white perch are known, quite like Lake Winnipesaukee. Tim Moore (timmooreoutdoors.com ), an elite white perch ice angler and long-time area guide, has tips for anyone looking to give it a shot.
“When not traveling in search of food, white perch will often settle in basins around 30 feet deep. Finding a school of resting white perch in a basin is like waking a sleeping giant. I’ll mark nothing on the Vexilar, drop a jig and within seconds the flasher lights up.”
When it comes to bait selection, Moore likes to keep it pretty straightforward.
“My favorite jig is a 1/8-ounce white Blade Spoon from Clam Pro Tackle,” he says. “I replace the treble hook with a single Siwash hook, as required when using bait through the ice in New Hampshire, and tip it with just enough worm or crawler to cover the hook.”
Moore also stresses the importance of pre-trip preparation.
“White perch are nomadic, so spending time studying maps before a trip is crucial,” he says. “Identifying key travel routes is almost as important as it is in deer hunting.”
Lake Carmi When most anglers think of ice fishing in Vermont, Lake Champlain is usually top of mind. However, tucked away in the northern part of the state is Lake Carmi. While it’s not large, spanning just over 1,000 acres, its incredibly fertile waters support a thriving yellow perch population. With plenty of predators, like northern pike, walleyes and smallmouth bass, Lake Carmi perch need to get big quickly or risk being preyed upon.
Upon first inspection, there is a lack of obvious cover to hold large numbers of fish, so anglers need to be prepared to utilize electronics and cover ice to key-in on high-percentage areas. Additionally, due to the rare commodity of a solid walleye population, this lake receives a fair amount of fishing pressure during the winter.
To weed through small fish and boost your chances of mixing in a few walleyes as bycatch, I suggest using aggressive baits like the Rapala Jigging Rap or the Jackall TN50 Lipless crankbait as a search bait. Once fish show themselves on electronics, then it is time to slow down and pick the area apart with more finesse jigging tactics and a wide spread of tip-ups.
Connecticut River The mighty Connecticut River offers diverse fishing, from trout and salmon up north to striped bass near Long Island Sound. As the river nears the tri-state area where the borders of Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire meet, a series of oxbows and shallow backwaters can be found. Not only do these areas offer some of the best multi-species fishing in the region, they also serve as important habitats for perch, especially during the ice-fishing season.
“The Connecticut River system of setbacks provides yellow perch access to nutrient-rich and prolific food sources and a chance to escape the mainstem river’s current during the winter months,” says Connecticut River panfish sharpie Gabe Gries.
Often, the key to fishing these shallow backwaters is finding slight depressions or other subtle holes in the weed flats. Once located, it is possible to catch large numbers of fish and plenty of true jumbos.
Anglers should be warned to always monitor water levels any time they are considering ice fishing on river backwaters. Ice conditions, especially near the edge, can change rapidly.
This article was featured in the February 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
