"That's the biggest yellow perch I've ever seen," I told Ruta as she hauled the fish over the gunnel of the canoe. We had launched at Shad Landing State Park into the Pocomoke River near the town of Snow Hill, Maryland. It was the middle of February and we had heard that there is a great run of these guys during the winter in this watershed. It is probably one of the furthest south areas of this species' range. However, they grow quite large in this habitat. Yellow perch range from the East Coast of the US and Canada from Nova Scotia to southern Maryland. They are found through most of the Midwest of the United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. In Maryland they spawn during the winter and it makes for great angling. However, because this is the geographical fringe of their range, they are under a lot of stress.

These guys feed on a variety of organisms. Grass shrimp and other aquatic invertebrates are among their favorite forage species as are small minnows and worms. Most anglers use night crawlers as bait but blood worms and even small pieces of clam also work well.

Artificials are also an option. Small bucktail and plastic tail jigs work well. Spoons and various fly patterns will take yellow perch. We have found that bright green is about the best color you can use but white, red, orange, smoke and even black take fish at times. It all depends on cloud cover and clarity of the water. We like using the duller colors on overcast days and brighter ones when it is sunny.

Light outfits are in order here. We use ultra light spinning rods and reels loaded with four pound test. A single hook bottom rig with a sinker between a quarter and one ounce appears to be the best.

When fishing during the winter in the Pocomoke, we anchor on the slope of the channel in between 10 and 20 feet of water. The fish appear to be depth specific and it varies from day to day. The technique is to cast around until you find what depth they are in on that particular day. An anchor adjustment may be order.

At times, yellow perch hit like mini-freight trains at others they appear to just mouth the bait and can be difficult to hook. When this happens, a slow pull rather than a jerk, will often entice them to grab the offering. Drop your line to the bottom and let it lay still. If you feel a change in pressure, it may be a fish or simply a surge in the current. Lift the rod tip a few inches and feel if something pulls back. If not, return the bait to the bottom slowly. If you feel a fish, pull it up easily. Do not set the hook until you detect a substantial hit.

When fishing with lead head jigs, cast upstream and release the line until it hits the bottom. Then, using the current, let the lure drift down river while you work the rod bouncing the bucktail on the river bed.

Perch will also take many styles of spoons. Problem is that you have to get to the bottom. Some of these are designed to work deep and would be the best choices.

There are a few locations with easy access to the Pocomoke. One of the most popular is at Shad Landing State Park near Snow Hill. This area boasts a fine multi-vessel ramp and an excellent wooden pier and plenty of parking.

To get there from the south turn toward Berlin onto Route 113 from Route 13 in Pocomoke City. Go about seven miles to the park entrance, which is on the left. Follow the signs to the boat ramp.

A second location is at Bird Park in Snow Hill. This site has a smaller, but adequate ramp and sufficient parking. To get there, turn onto business 113 when approaching Snow Hill from either direction. Keep driving until you see the park on the left if you are heading north or on the right southbound.

From either of these put-ins it is not necessary to go far. Perch will be found in the main-stem of the river along the channel edges

There are strict regulations in tidewater for yellow perch in Maryland. From February 1st until March 15th, only a single barbless hook may be used. We checked with the Department of Natural Resources Police and discovered that they would consider a hook with the barb squeezed down as barbless. The bag limit is five fish per angler per day and the minimum size is nine inches.

Yellow perch are found in most rivers of the eastern and western shores of the Bay. However, keep in mind that they are illegal in the following watersheds: Magothy, Nanticoke, Patapsco, Severn, South and West Rivers.

If it's cold out there, don't just sit around fantasizing about the big ones you got last summer, grab a rod and head down to the Pocomoke for some great yellow perch angling.