Yellow Perch from Flathead Lake

The south end of Flathead Lake is a good place to fish for yellow perch and lake trout. Lake trout, lake whitefish and yellow perch are the most common non-natives fish in Flathead Lake.

Fishing for Yellow Perch

This tasty fish is one of the most popular fish in the lake. Flathead can produce 8″-12″ perch in good numbers at times of the year. Perch are generally found in more sheltered bays in 5′-30′ of water over sandy or silty bottoms and near weedbeds. They feed on zooplankton, aquatic insects, and small fish. One of the very best spots is Polson (East) Bay, both during the winter and spring spawning season in April. Big Arm Bay and more sheltered bays in the south can also produce perch at times. Perch are nomadic and generally run in schools of the same size so move around until you find the fish you want.

The best method is to fish a small leadhead jig with marabou or a twisterstyle body in white, chartreuse, or yellow. Tip the jig with a maggot, piece of worm, or a small piece of fish or perch eye. Fish straight off your rod or below a bobber if you need to cast out. A little jigging will tempt finicky biters.