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The Best Way to Catch White Perch

White perch, or Morone americana, are not actually perch at all. They are silver in color and are related to the bass family, resembling the white bass, except they have no stripes. They are small, ranging from 6 to 12 inches long, and weigh under 1 lb. You can find them in brackish or fresh water from South Carolina up to the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Although you can catch white perch at any time during the year, the best way to catch white perch is to take their size into consideration and their spawning habits.

Things You'll Need

4- to 8-lb. test line
Medium-action rod, with either a spinning or casting reel
Small sharp hooks
Reflective lures or small pieces of fresh bait
Sinkers or bobbers

Instructions

- 1
  Use a 4- to 8-lb. test line. You don't need any more weight for these small fish. A medium-action rod with either a spinning or casting reel works fine for white perch.
- 2
  Choose a small, sharp hook, such as a #1 baitkeeper. White perch have small mouths and don't take the whole hook into their mouths when they bite, so there's a greater chance of escape if a larger hook is used.
- 3
  Keep the bait small. Use small, reflective spinners, spoons or Rapalas with a sinker to keep the bait nearer the bottom if you are fishing in a lake. Choose small pieces of fresh bait such as bloodworms, minnows or grass shrimp with a bobber, if you are fishing in shallower water.
- 4
  Head out during dusk or early evening. White perch tend to feed during this time.
- 5
  Fish during the spring when white perch spawn, for optimal results. Although they can be found in both salt and fresh water, they spawn in shallow, fresh water. Look for sites such as tributary streams or gravelly shoal areas of lakes and rivers.
- 6
  Check out sites with warmer water in the summer. White perch prefer water temperatures of 75 degrees F or higher during this time. They seek out and grow larger in warmer water.

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