[1david]

Ok with about a couple months left until they start their run. When are they going to start this year?
Yellows ran from late Feb into march..
White perch were like a late march? Early April?

 

[Tommy Robinson]

They are being caught now. They will migrate and feed before the spawn in the same waters. Northeast, Magothy and Upper Choptank Rivers are year rounders if you can locate them, they will usually bite.

 

[Jerry Norris]

Tommy is right, the YP are biting now if you can find them. I fished a local stream for about half an hour the other day and caught three small YP before I had to leave. A couple of weeks ago, they were biting good in the river. The runs all depend on where you are fishing. The runs start much earlier on the lower and Eastern shores and much later in the northern bay. As expected, water temps have a major influence on the runs. Generally the YP will start on the lower/Eastern shores anywhere from mid to late Feb. and the WP will be toward the middle to the end of March. In the northern bay, the start of the YP run will be more toward late Feb or early Mar. and the WP run will start somewhere around early to mid April and peak in late April to early May. Both will bite earlier in deeper waters as they move to their staging areas if you can find them.

 

[andypat]

He asked about the run. Jerry answer is right on. I was going to tell him he could catch them right now if he had a boat and don't mind cold weather. Then I remembered he said the perch RUN. For me the yellow perch run will probably start sometime in Feb. Like Med or end of Feb.

 

[bluefish1928]

Last year when I still lived in MD, it was spotty near the of end of Jan, but consistent by mid Feb. Peak= late Feb. It will probably depend on how far up the river you are fishing. I was primarily hitting the Choptank. White perch follow the yellows. Also, for some reason they bite a lot better on outgoing tide.

Now in VA, I get to start this guess work again. Anyone know the water temperature ranges?

 

[Tommy Robinson]

Last year when I still lived in MD, it was spotty near the of end of Jan, but consistent by mid Feb. Peak= late Feb. It will probably depend on how far up the river you are fishing. I was primarily hitting the Choptank. White perch follow the yellows. Also, for some reason they bite a lot better on outgoing tide.

Now in VA, I get to start this guess work again. Anyone know the water temperature ranges?

I am guessing that the term "run" means "spawn" to some. I know that they are being caught in the same waters that they spawn in up until this recent cold snap. I have not been able to go as a result of the ice that just formed. I do know that the Yellow Perch are already developing eggs and usually spawn through mid March but on a warm up, they can start in January. I have caught them in the creeks that warm up quickly and create a short spawn. Around 45-50 degree mark is the temps that trigger the Yellow's to start dropping. Most years in the mid part of the state, that occurs late February into Mid March. St. Patty's Day is usually around the time when the White Perch start spawning but again they too can be caught in the same waters at times, even in December (like the past two years).
I am currently working on my latest video on some local 2017 Perch fishing.

 

[Tommy Robinson]

https://youtu.be/5bmvBOzOvao

 

[andypat]

Tommy can find them. Check out his New Year Perch fishing video. WTG Tommy!

 

[Tommy Robinson]

Thanks Andy. It really can be tough searching for them especially from shore.