Spring Perch Fishing: How to Catch Staging Fish in Pre-Spawn
Spring on Lake Simcoe marks an exciting time for anglers targeting pre-spawn jumbo perch. As the ice melts and water temperatures slowly climb, perch begin migrating from wintering areas toward shallow spawning grounds. This transitional period presents an excellent opportunity to catch these jumbos, but success often hinges on employing the right techniques and strategies. In spring I focus on a proven method: using goby baits dragged slowly along the bottom on deep flats adjacent to shallower, dense weeds. Sometimes I will add a high hook with a smaller profile 1-2 inch bait, but most often I simply fish the bottom bait.
Understanding Pre-Spawn Perch Behavior
During the pre-spawn period in March and April, perch tend to congregate on deep flats near their eventual spawning grounds. Perch will be fully set up staging to spawn on deep flats once temps creep above 40°F. These areas, typically 20-30 feet deep, provide access to food and a staging point for moving into the weeds to spawn which occurs once water surface temps reach the mid to high 40s°F. Look for flats that are close to dense weed beds, as these will be the ideal habitat for staging fish.
Staging Jumbo Perch on LiveScope
Why Goby Baits?
Lake Simcoe’s ecosystem is home to an abundance of round gobies, making them a natural forage choice for perch. Mimicking this prey with goby-style soft plastics can be highly effective. These baits closely resemble the real thing and are designed to attract attention with their subtle, lifelike action. Additionally, pre-spawn perch are weighed down with eggs and are reluctant to chase baits upward and need a slow bottom bait presentation. Large perch are also notorious for cannibalizing juveniles that are ~3 inches long, which are a very similar size and profile match to the goby baits of the same size that I fish.
Z-Man TRD GobyZ on a ned head
Technique: Dragging Goby Baits Along the Bottom
The key to enticing pre-spawn perch is to keep your presentation very slow with bottom contact. Here’s how to do it:
Choose the Right Setup: Use a light spinning rod and reel spooled with ~15ft of 4-6 lb fluorocarbon leader and 6-10lb braid. This setup ensures sensitivity for detecting subtle bites.
Select the Perfect Goby Bait: Soft plastics in natural colors like green pumpkin with a light underbelly are ideal. Pair them with a 3/16 to 1/4 oz ned head. On windier days you may need to upsize ned heads to 3/8 oz.
Position Yourself on the Flats: Scan using your electronics and spot lock upwind of a school.
Slow Dragging Technique: Cast your goby bait out downwind and let it sink to the bottom. Slowly sweep your rod tip from downwind to upwind, pausing at the upwind end of your sweep for 2-3 seconds. Reel down the slack as you drop your rod tip back downwind, and repeat. Avoid hopping the bait - perch are more likely to strike when the bait stays in contact with bottom
Stay Patient and Observant: Perch bites can be light during this time of year, so pay close attention to subtle taps and keep the line taught without pulling the bait off bottom.
A short medium-lite rod like this St.Croix Triumph is perfect for dragging goby baits on bottom and detecting bites
Additional Tips for Success
Watch the Water Temperature: Perch will be setup and staging as water temperatures rise just above 40°F
Bring a Variety of Baits: Have a variety of soft plastics to try, popular options are the X-Zone Stealth Invader and the Critter Assassins Tracer Shad in 2.5-3”
A sneaky high hook bait to try rigged on a small dropshot hook 1-2 feet above your main ned rig bait
Conclusion
Catching pre-spawn perch on Lake Simcoe in March and April requires a combination of location, presentation, and patience. By focusing on deep flats near dense weed beds and using goby baits dragged slowly along the bottom, you’ll increase your chances of success. Try to release the big females north of 12 inches that aren’t suffering from barotrauma.
If you’re interested in a perch fishing trip on Lake Simcoe, give me a call or text at 647-857-7085. I guarantee you’ll catch fish or your next trip is free! Check out what my clients have to say about their experience on google maps
