In large western Nebraska reservoirs and the natural Sand hills lakes in north central Nebraska, the yellow perch is the king of the pan fish, much as the bluegill and crappie rule eastern Nebraska waters.

Perch stay in the depths of the reservoirs, often in 20 to 50 feet of water. They hug the bottom, run in schools and are strictly daytime feeders. They are also daytime feeders in the natural Sand hills lakes, but depth is not a factor in those shallow waters.

There are many effective ice-fishing baits for perch. One day, a plain hook and minnow might work best, while the next might require a teardrop and wax worm. Sometimes a small, flashy spoon tipped with a grub worm or a strip of belly meat and skin from an already-subdued fish secured to a Russian spoon or teardrop might be the ticket.

One old standby bait -- the perch eye -- should be included in every serious perch fisherman's arsenal. An eyeball plucked from a recently caught and dispatched perch can be used in place of a minnow or worm, often with better results. The eyeball is effective on a plain hook, teardrop or spoon, and once the first perch is iced. a supply of bait is assured.