It’s [one of] the most wonderful times of the year! With holiday celebrations, a new year on the horizon, and temperatures plummeting across the Chesapeake Bay region, a couple of our coveted local species remain active and are prime targets for winter fishing. Yellow perch and chain pickerel go hand-in-hand, from tributary creeks to freshwater mill ponds, when fishing December through early-March. If you, as an angler, have the determination to fish during the coldest time of year, you can be rewarded with excellent catches of winter perch ‘n pickerel!
We’ve culled our archives for past seasons’ reports that specifically targeted chain pickerel and yellow perch. Many techniques and lures where used across the spectrum of conditions and locations fished. We believe that these reports can be helpul to you, when planning your next winter outing.
Reports, Tips & Tactics
Water temperatures continue to dip lower as autumn sets in, contributing to an improved bite in the feeder creeks of the Severn River
With winter’s grip loosening and fishing opportunities increasing, we plan to target trout on the fly, perch and fallfish spinning, and jerking up pickerel, among other species!
Yellow Perch and Pickerel Season Fires Up!
November 26, 2024 5:20 pmAs the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, both species tend to get frisky, feed hard, and offer anglers excellent fishing!
It’s mid-September and fish activity is picking up. Fishing from the community beach with a handful of go-to lures brought in a couple species
A beautiful week of weather in the middle Chesapeake has led to an increase in fish activity (many species) and anglers ready to catch them!
A weather warm-up has the fish and anglers active, with multi-species reports flooding in…spring is close!
From sunny and 65 degrees to an Arctic blast dropping temps to freezing, the Bay region’s weather this week has definitely impacted fisheries
A fairly conventional late-winter week with fish holding in pre-spawn patterns; we await the first major push of yellow perch…
A mix of wonky weather this week made for some tough conditions on open water and in the creeks, but fish were caught regardless
A mild week of weather has helped stabilize fisheries in the middle Chesapeake, making for typical late-winter patterns
Conditions have settled in the middle Chesapeake Bay region, water clarity improved, and the fishing fired up; we talk trout, stripers, perch, and more!
The “big chill” gives way to above average temps, snowmelt, and improvements to multiple Chesapeake fisheries
A deep freeze is upon the middle Chesapeake Bay region, but there are still a few angling options
The fishing was great pre-storm, then a banger hit the region on Tues/Wed; we examine the Chesapeake’s many fisheries and what’s in store for the days ahead
The epic run of migratory striped bass continues during the first week of the new year; plus, more of what’s biting in the middle Chesapeake Bay
Mid Chesapeake Bay angling summary of what’s biting and where throughout the watershed
