Freshwater

Creole perch (perca criolla, Patagonian perch)

Perca criolla (trucha criolla)

Percichthys trucha

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

½–2 lb.

Depth

3–30 ft.

Best time

Morning and evening.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Native Patagonian perch: deep, olive to brown body with darker blotches, a big mouth, a spiny front dorsal fin and a rounded tail.
Typical size: ½–2 lb.
Maximum size: About 16–18 in and a few pounds.
Diet: Small fish, crayfish, insects and snails.
Behavior: Lives around rocks, weeds and drop-offs in lakes and slow rivers; often in groups.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Patagonia and Andes Lakes & Rivers. Lakes and rivers of Argentine Patagonia (Limay, Negro, Chubut and their lakes) and southern Chile.
Habitat: Lakes and rivers of Argentine Patagonia (Limay, Negro, Chubut and their lakes) and southern Chile.
Depth: 3–30 ft.
Fishing depth: 5–20 ft near rocks and weeds.
Best season: Spring to autumn (November to April), during the Patagonian fishing season.
Best time: Morning and evening.
Best tides: No tide; wind and water level matter more.
Best weather / conditions: Calm days; Patagonian wind can be fierce.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Worms and small crayfish where bait is allowed.
Best artificial lures: Small spinners, spoons, jigs and nymph or streamer flies.
Tackle setup: Light spinning rod or 5–6 weight fly rod.
Hook size: Size 4–1/0.
Line: 6–10 lb.
Leader: 6–8 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Line Lures Spoons Fly rod Pliers

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Lakes and rivers of Argentine Patagonia (Limay, Negro, Chubut and their lakes) and southern Chile.
Rig up: Light spinning rod or 5–6 weight fly rod. 6–8 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Worms and small crayfish where bait is allowed. Lures: Small spinners, spoons, jigs and nymph or streamer flies.
Fish it: Work small lures or flies slowly along rocky shores and weed edges.
Time it: Morning and evening. No tide; wind and water level matter more.

Fishing techniques: Work small lures or flies slowly along rocky shores and weed edges.
BigJoe's tip: Where trout fishing is slow, the native perch often save the day near rocky points.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Firm, white, tasty meat; fried or grilled.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Spiny dorsal fin.
Regulations: Patagonian provinces and Chile set seasons, limits and fly-only waters; many anglers release them. Every country requires a fishing license (in Brazil, the Licença de Pesca Amadora), each Argentine province and Brazilian state adds its own rules, and most rivers close during the spawning season. Indigenous lands and strict reserves are closed to outside anglers without permits.
Conservation: A native fish that has lost ground to introduced trout and salmon.

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Sources & photo credits