What happens to all of the yellow perch?

[kawishiwi]

Ive fished winni bass this year from may to sept and have not seen a single yellow perch yet this weekend I marked a large school of fish, from 5ft down to 20ft, 20+ ft long and wide and they turned out to be 2.5 inch yellow perch. A lot of fish that filled the sonar screen! As yellow perch will hit many smallmouth baits I am suprised to have seen 0 adult yellow perch yet found such a massive school of young. Any ideas as to why this is?

[Flyfisha]

Caught some pretty good ones in the Basin. Also, landed some huge white perch this summer!! I think the small fry end up in Rock Bass Bellies!!

[DesertDweller]

I seldom catch yellow perch so I don't think you are experiencing anything out of the norm. Plenty of white perch though.

[kawishiwi]

I dont want your favorite spots but what bait do you use for white perch and what kind of locations?

[Flyfisha]

Worms, small hooks with brass spinner and red beads. 25 feet water in quiet coves. You can see schools on your fish finder.

[Rob M]

I fished Winni 15 - 20 times this year for bass, and found many spots with large schools of adult perch and other spots with endless clouds of juvenile yellow perch. These are the spots I caught most of my bigger fish. They may not be in the same spot as they were last year, but they are around. The long winter changed the weed beds a lot this year, when the vegetation changes the fish habitat changes. Find the weeds, find the forage fish, find the big fish.