The White Perch
The white perch (Morone americana) is a warm-water fish found in some areas of western New York. White perch typically range between 12 and 18 inches in length and can be identified by their broad, silver body, forked tail, and black lines that run along both sides of the fish. White perch are not often targeted specifically by anglers but are often caught when fishing for other species such as smallmouth bass.
White perch resemble both white bass and striped bass and can be confused with either species. White perch can be distinguished from white bass by the shape of their tail and markings on the sides of the fish. White perch have a forked tail that is rounded and not sharp while white bass have a sharply forked tail. Also, white perch only have one distinct line horizontal line on either side, while white bass usually have many black lines running horizontally along the sides of their bodies. Striped bass, on the other hand, are not found in western New York.
Habitat
White perch can be found in large lakes including Erie and Ontario and also some large creeks and rivers. In Lake Erie, white perch are often found in bays, especially in the springtime.
White perch are sometimes found in creeks and rivers, especially Great Lakes tributaries. In creeks and rivers, white perch are usually found in sluggish sections, especially in the lower sections near creek mouths. White perch occupy both shallow flats and deep areas and can often be seen swimming about.
Food
White perch probably feed primarily on minnows, especially once they are adults. However, white perch won’t hesitate to snatch up crayfish or worms. White perch will also eat large aquatic insects and other such forage found in creeks and rivers.
Where to Catch White Perch
White perch can be found in lakes Erie and Ontario, their tributaries, the Niagara River, and in some other warm-water creeks and rivers in western New York. White perch can also be found in good numbers in Lake Chautauqua.
The best time of year to target white perch is by far the springtime when they enter the lower stretches of Lake Erie and Ontario tributaries. White perch can usually be found in Great Lakes tributaries from late April through about mid June. It is best to target white perch in the slow, deep sections near tributary mouths.
How to Catch White Perch
White perch can be caught on both live bait and artificial lures. For the live bait fisherman, minnows fished under a float are a good bet. When spin fishing, good lures include soft plastics and some stick baits. Productive soft plastics include curly-tail jigs, worm imitations, and tube jigs. Small stick baits can also work well on occasion.
White perch can also be caught on the fly and are often caught when fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Hooking up with white perch is a nice experience, especially on a light fly rod. Fly fishing for white perch is most productive on creeks and rivers. Stripping streamers is probably your best bet when targeting white perch on the fly.
