Pro Secret: The #1 Rig for Slaying Early-season Yellow Perch

Nothing lures in jumbo yellow perch like a cloud of silt erupting from the bottom, making them think another perch is sucking up goodies and spitting out the leftovers. That makes drop-shotting one of the best ways to attract naturally curious perch—and trigger them to bite.

To stir up bottom, I typically use a heavier 3/8- to 3/4-ounce ball-shaped weight at the end of my rig, depending on the water depth. I then secure a minnow or scented soft-plastic worm, grub or tube about 16 inches above it on a thin-wire, razor-sharp #6 or #8 drop-shot hook. After I lift up the rig and pound it into the bottom two or three times to create a dust storm, I leave the weight on the bottom, draw my line tight and wait for that telltale tug.