White Perch

The usual length of the White Perch is around 5 to 7 inches with the average weight of around 8 ounces. It is usually dark silvery green or dark brown to almost black on the back with silvery green on the sides and a silvery white belly. Common names for the white perch are: narrow-mouthed bass, silver perch and sea perch. It is commonly found in the lakes Superior, Ontario, Erie and Huron.

Best Bait For White Perch

Its usually best to use live bait for the White Perch but they also go for a variety of artificial lures. Nightcrawlers are generally considered the best live bait for the White Perch but other popular baits and lures are: bloodworms, shrimp, minnows, earthworms, crickets, grasshoppers, maggots, shiny artificial lures ( eg. spoons and mettalic plastic minnows ), small streamers, insect patterns or wet flies. Use small sections of bait as the white perch will bite an entire worm (minnow, nightcrawler etc.) off of the hook with ease and avoid capure while doing it. Smaller pieces threaded onto the hooks shank work much better.

Where To Look For The White Perch

Spring: During the spring white perch are most active as it is time for their spawning cycle. You will usually find them in the sun warmed shallows. Perch are a school fish which means if you catch one or two at a given location, chances are there are more around to catch.

Summer: During the summer, most of the larger perch move from the shallows into deeper waters. They are active during the early morning and early evening hours. Try fishing deeper waters near the bottom, around weed beds, docks, sunken locks, submerged rock piles and stumps.

Fall: As in the summer months, during the fall the perch remain acitve in the deeper waters, but gradually they will move into the shallows where they will stay until the winter icing over. Try fishing for them the same way you would during the summer months and you can also try casting-bubble method.