A flat is a large stretch of water with very minimal contour changes. Yellow perch are often found on large flats with muddy and weedy bottoms.
Shallow Flats Can Be Great in the Spring
Shallow water flats are great for catching yellow perch from ice out through the spawn in the early spring months. In clear waters, these fish may be easily spooked, so you have to be stealthy when approaching some of the better fishing areas. Fluorocarbon fishing line is important for tricking some of the fish that spook easily. The shallow flats with green weeds tend to hold good numbers of yellow perch in the early spring months.
The Mud Flats Are Good in the Summer
The mud flats are popular spots for walleye during the summer months due to the insect hatches in the mud. During the mayfly hatch in the summer, yellow perch will be found gorging themselves on these bugs as they emerge from the mud and head towards to the surface.
Deep Water Flats
Deep water flats can also be very good. Some of these flats will have mud, so you have the mayfly hatch to attract yellow perch to these areas. Some flats will have some weeds or rock on them as well. In deeper water, the drop-offs and reefs are usually better places to fish, but sometimes the flats will be the better spots to fish, especially during the summer months
