I screwed up the photo but I did actually identify a fish I caught the other day as a Yellow Perch. Small guy maybe 8 or 9 inches in length.

For some reason I thought they were clear water fish. There were schools of them in there it was a 6-8 ft cove, extremely muddy water. Anyone fish for these? What type of water do you usually find them in?

Occasionally here in South Jersey I find them when throwing my ultra lite rig. Most average about 6 - 8".

I just got back from the Poconos where I got some that were 11 - 12".

They are excellent eating fish.

really? I think next time I may keep a couple then and cook 'em up. In your opinion, what is the best way to cook these things up?

Personally, I keep it simple with fish. A little salt, pepper, lemon juice and a quick bake or broil. Or a dredge in corn meal or seasoned flour and then off to the frying pan.

They are always on the bottom feeding. I use worms or shiners. Spinners also work well for me.

One more.  I have a pond that I fish that all the perch are this size and bigger. Those were actually the smallest one of the day.  Those fish were from a pond that was near the "good perch" pond.

I've only caught one yellow perch my whole life... and it was on a 4" power worm

When I lived on Long Island I used to fish for yellow perch when I wanted a fresh caught fish dinner.  They are very tasty.

I used to fish for them around rocks or rip rap using a 1/8th oz round jig head and a twister tail.  just bounce that sucker around the rocks and they bit it like crazy.

Back then I would go out early in the morning, before breakfast.  I would catch enough for a good meal then fillet em.   Next I would dip the fillets in some egg, and bread them, then fry up some bacon then use the bacon grease to fry the fillets.  add a couple of eggs and you have one holaciously delicious camp style breakfast.  

I have caught some big ones on large topwater baits.

Sweet Jesus T-rig, that is far and away the biggest yellow I've ever seen !!

Is that unusual for even you, or can you find them like that often ?

the perch in my lake are not that big, I get annoyed when I get one lol.  Usually it's just little kids fishing for perch here, pulling in a "big" one in my lake is about as fun as pulling in a clump of weeds.  In some of the pics above, maybe it's different though!

mmmm perch probabaly one of my favorite things to do is go perch fishing on erie well no my favorite is eating them

If you like walleye you'll like perch too...very good in the belly!

Adi, those are some HUMONGOUS yellow perch

I have caught some big ones on large topwater baits.

Ahemmm...somehow "Perca flavescens" got converted to "Perca fluviatilis" : ;D

On average, European perch (P. fluviatilis) weigh about twice as much as American yellow perch (P. flavescens).

The American record yellow perch weighed 4-lb 3.5-oz and was taken in Bordentown, New Jersey.

However, Dr Abbott's historical record is highly disputed today (yet another bashed record).

On the other hand, I believe there's a well-documented European perch weighing over 6 pounds.

Roger