Jumbo Perch in South Dakota

Jumbo Perch in South Dakota

When you think of in the jumbo perch in the Midwest most anglers immediately think of Devils Lake in North Dakota.

While Devils lake it a great perch destination, all across North and South Dakota there are shallow water duck sloughs that are loaded with jumbo perch that see little to no fishing pressure. 

These shallow water duck sloughs are incredible fertile and can support large numbers of jumbo Perch.

The forage base in these duck sloughs tends to consist of a lot of freshwater shrimp which is really a key to growing big perch fast.

Fishing Shallow Water

Fishing these shallow sloughs is simple.

Typically these bodies of water are fairly small (less than 100 acres) and can be fished fast, becuase there isn’t a lot of area to cover. Start by drilling a line of holes from the shoreline out to the middle or deepest part of the slough.

Check the depth at each hole and look for fish. A Humminbird Ice Helix 7  is key, because the water in these duck sloughs is often muddy with low visibility so underwater cameras are limited. Once you find what area the fish are keying in on you can punch holes in similar spots to stay on the fish all day. 

Baits For Jumbo Perch

Jumbo perch will bite on a number of different presentations. Small spoons like the VMC Rattle Spoon in a 1/16 ounce is perfect for big jumbos.

Jigs paired with live bait or plastics like the Clam Maki or the Clam Jamei XL are other great options for big perch. A lot of times it’s nice to use plastics over live bait simply, because you won’t have to rebait the hook as often.

FAQ’s

Are jumbo perch good eating?

Yes. Perch are a delicious fish with a mild, flakey meat.

What do perch feed on?

Perch eat smaller fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.

What is the best color when fishing for jumbo perch?

The color of your bait will be impacted by the water clarity and the fishes natural forage in the particular body of water you are fishing. As a general rule of thumb brighter colors tend to work best for big jumbo perch.

Conclusion

Perch are agressive, willing biters and a great species to target through the ice. If you want to catch big perch, you’ve got to go to places that have the ability to grow them. The these small duck sloughs scattered all across the Dakotas are hidden gems for jumbo Perch.