Perch fishing can be one of the best ways to spend your time on the water. In this post we’ll share with you the best perch lures that will help you catch fish
Best Perch Lures
- Minnows – Mule Fishing Mule Minnows
- Mini Paddle Tail Swimbaits – Mule Fishing Donkey Tail Jr.
- Worms – Berkley Gulp! Earthworm Soft Bait
- Inline Spinner – Yakima Original Rooster Tail
- Spoon – Acme Kastmaster
- Crankbait – Berkley Flicker Shad
Yellow Perch is a great fish to catch with a good amount of fight. It is considered a panfish so there are a number of lures that will work for targeting them. Whether you’re looking for hard baits or looking for soft plastic baits, this post will walk you through some real gems that are great at targeting big Perch!
Soft Plastic Perch Lures
1. Minnows
Minnows are a great soft plastic lure for targeting Yellow Perch. They come in various sizes and colors and are easy to match your local forage.
They can also be fished several different ways. You can jig them vertically with our without a bobber or cast and twitch them back as you reel in your lure. Anyway your fish them they are deadly and get bites.
The Mule Minnow by Mule Fishing is an amazing minnow soft plastic. It is durable like Z-man plastics so you wont have to replace your lure after a few fish. It also come in 3 sizes starting at 1.2 inches and going as big as 3.2 inches.
Mule Fishing Mule Minnow
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.Pair the Mule Minnow with a light Mule Jig and you’ll be catching fish in no time. The Mule Jig was designed to hold onto the stretchy Mule Fishing soft plastic so they make a perfect match. Go as light as your comfortable and change up colors based on the conditions
1/64 oz. Mule Jig
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.2. Mini Paddle Tail Swimbaits
Mini soft plastic swimbaits also work great for catching Perch. Perfect for when you need a little more kick or action than a minnow style bait can provide. Match them up with your local forage or go completely obnoxious with your color choices.
These can be jigged vertically with a bobber or without if you’re on a dock or fishing from a boat. You can also twitch them as you reel in your lure. The small profile imitates a small fry or minnow with a little extra action.
The Donkey Tail Jr. is a great mini swimbait. It’s 1.6 inches so it provides a small profile that will get any panfish to bite. The action on the boot tail works in the lightest of currents and kicks as it moves through the water column. Pair these with the Mule Jig as well and you’ll be catching jumbo Perch in no time.
Mule Fishing Donkey Tail Jr.
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.3. Worms
You can’t beat a classic worm profile and when it comes to soft plastic worms, Berkley Gulp! has the best ones. They are the most realistic plastic worm lures and have crazy subtle action. The scent on the worms also provides an extra edge when the bite gets really tough.
Berkley Gulp! Earthworm Soft Bait
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.You’ll want to keep a jar on you for those days when you just can’t seem to get a bite or you want to fish a much slower style. Use a small hook and a bobber and you can target suspended Perch with precision. Once you find one you’ll most likely catch another especially if they are suspended.
You can also use these if you’re fishing through the ice. Go with a red color during ice fishing season so it is more visible for Perch to key in on.
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Best Hard Bait Perch Fishing Lures
4. Inline Spinners
Inline Spinners are great for targeting most panfish, but it really shines when targeting Perch. The vibrations and flash caused by the spinner drives Perch crazy. They are available almost anywhere and come in a variety of colors and sizes.
It’s such an easy lure to use. All you need to do is cast it out and reel it in, it’s that easy. Now you can get fancy with it and vary your retrieve speed, slow things down or burn it as fast as you can. You can also target different areas of the water column by the way you point your rod tip or how long you wait to reel your lure in.
My favorite inline spinners are Worden’s Original Rooster Tails. You can get them almost anywhere and they come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are also very budget friendly compared to other brands so if you do get snagged and end up losing your lure it’s not the end of the world.
Yakima Bait Original Rooster Tail Inline Spinner
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.5. Spoons
A spoon is another multi-species lure that will get a Perch to hammer down on a hook. Spoons are a lot like inline spinners. They create flash and displace water as you reel it in. The difference is that spoons do not have a blade that spins.
You can fish spoons two different ways. First you can cast it out and retrieve it and just like with an inline spinner, you can vary your review and target multiple parts of the water column. You can also vertically jig a spoon. This is a great technique for suspended Perch. Add a little scent if you want a little more confidence while you’re jigging your spoon.
I like Acme Kastmasters. They are pretty affordable and come in a variety of colors and sizes. The quality of the lure is great and the brand has been around for a long time.
Acme Kastmaster Lure
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.
6. Crankbaits
Crankbaits are number 6 on this list, but are far from the worst on this list. They are great search baits that allow you to target a good amount of different species. When it comes to Perch, I recommend going small.
The Berkley Flicker Shad is a great crankbait. It has a good rattle and tight action and some colors give off flash or “flicker.” The 2 inch size is perfect for most Perch. Small enough to get the attention of a small Perch, but big enough that a jumbo will want to eat it too.
Berkley Flicker Shad Shallow Diving Hard Bait
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.Cast these out and crank them in. Vary the retrieve and make sure that the lure is wobbling as it should and runs straight. If you find your crankbait is running to the side, use a pair of pliers to tune your lure back into the proper position.
Feel free to give it a few twitches are you reel them in too. The erratic movements will mimic the movement of a wounded or dying baitfish that could be the ticket to getting a Perch to bite.
Lures for Perch
There are several kinds of styles and lures for Perch fishing. The key to finding the right ones for your area is testing out several different kinds and colors. Time on the water is the best way to learn which are the best perch lures for your local waters.
Hopefully you have found a new lure that will catch you the next jumbo Perch or give you the next Perch to eat after putting it in some grease. If you want more info on other lures or species please check out our Freshwater Fishing articles.
