Springtime generally sends anglers in a frenzy to their local lake, river, or pond in search of jumbo yellow perch. These ferocious panfish, often labeled “slough tigers”, are not only a blast to catch but also some of the tastiest fish you can fry.

If you’re looking to get out after these beautiful fish, take a few minutes to read below on the three best jumbo perch rigs you can use to catch a monster this spring!

Three-Way Rig 

This rig became famous when fishing for walleyes, but a down-sized version is a perfect presentation for jumbo perch. 

The rig uses a three-way swivel, a small weight on a short dropper, and lindy float above a hook or jig on a separate dropper line.

This rig is very popular among anglers who spend their time fishing the Mississippi River. It excels in the currents of the rivers where perch are staged up to spawn, by keeping the live bait presentation, whether it’s a nightcrawler or minnow, raised slightly above the bottom in the strike zone.

It can easily be fished by being cast and left to sit, or by casting and slowly dragging it back to the shore or boat, making it one of the most popular ways to fish for perch. 

The Drop Shot Rig

This drop shot rig was first brought to national attention by bass anglers targeting finicky bass on the Great Lakes, but since has become a much more versatile rig utilized by anglers targeting panfish, and more specifically, yellow perch. 

This rig involves tying a hook utilizing the Palomar knot and leaving a tag end anywhere from three inches to 12 inches long. A special drop shot weight is then attached to the bottom of the tag end and you have yourself a drop shot rig. 

This rig is fished by dropping the bait to the bottom and keeping a taut line in order to keep the bait off the bottom. You can shake and add motion to the bait to entice a strike. Use either red worms, nightcrawlers, or a minnow to find out what the perch are eating best that day.

Split Shot Rig

Like the three-way rig, this rig is designed to keep the bait slightly off the bottom. This method is extremely basic and is great for novice or youth anglers because of its simplicity.

To rig the split shot rig, simply tie a hook of your choice onto the end of the line, and affix a split shot about six to ten inches above the hook. Generally, the depth of the water will determine how heavy of weight you’ll want to use. To add some flair, consider adding a lindy float similar to the three-way rig to keep the bait higher off the bottom.

This is another great way to present live bait and is fished in the same manner as the three-way rig by dragging or letting it sit on the bottom.

Conclusion

Fishing for jumbo perch doesn’t have to be rocket science, but knowing these three rigs will certainly help you put more fish in the boat this spring. Tie on one of these rigs and hit the water and see if you can fill your pail with these awesome fish this spring!