Perch Fishing in Washington

Perch are one of the easiest varieties of fish to catch

Yellow perch, a type of game fish recognized by the state of Washington, have no minimum size and daily limit requirements in most areas of the state. In Banks, Mud and Moses Lake, the Potholes Reservoir in Grant County and Fish Lake in Chelan County, yellow perch can be caught year-round, but a limit of 25 per day is enforced.

Catching Yellow Perch

Yellow perch are one of the easiest fish to catch year-round, according to the website GoFish, which recommends fishing for large perch in over 20 feet of water or more except in springtime, when larger perch move to the shallow areas to spawn. One of the best types of bait for yellow perch is worms, artificial lures or a combination of the two. A type of fishing called “jigging” is the preferred method to catch a perch, which dances the lure in the water to catch the eye of the perch.

Where to Find Yellow Perch

In the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound, yellow perch can be found in Lake Sawyer and Lake Washington, while in the southern Cascades and the Columbia Gorge, yellow perch are most often found in Pierce County's Silver Lake. Lind Coulee Waterway, Potholes Reservoir, Scooteney Reservoir and Soda Lake are great areas for yellow perch fishing in southeastern Washington.

Consumption Advice

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2010-2011 Fishing Guide, yellow perch caught in Lake Washington should be eaten no more than once a week. Yellow perch caught in Whatcom County's Lake Whatcom should be eaten only once a week by children and women of child-bearing age.

Licenses

In the state of Washington, a license is required for persons 16 years and older fishing for yellow perch. Prices vary based on resident status, age, disability and military status. Prices start at $24 for an annual freshwater license for residents, while non-residents pay $48 and seniors over 70 pay only $6.

Equipment

The website FishingCoaches recommends using lures such as Swedish Pimple white-, red-, or blue-prism finish lures to catch yellow perch, as well as black, tallow and white jigs with marabou or curly tail plastic. Fishermen using bait to catch yellow perch should use earthworms, a spool of 10-lb. line, Eagle Claw Baitholder hooks in size six or eight, bass casting sinkers and snap swivels in size one and barrel swivels in size 14.

References

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Fishing Guide 2010-2011
• GoFishN: Yellow Perch Fishing in Washington
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Licenses
• Fishing Coaches: Lake Washington Perch