Do you love big bluegill?

white perch

i LOVE catching white perch. i catching them in brackish coves on the southern ct river just 1 or 2 miles from the ocean. i usually get them on a slow rolled kastmaster or small jig. some of them can push 2lbs. i only get them for a bout a week in July then the disappear. any place the could go, or tips on how to catch them. i have heard of people catching them much further up river in coves in massive numbers and huge fish. i have never had a chance to try up river. also are they any good eating?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on December 7, 2010 at 7:51am

Wish I could give you tips but my experience with Whites has been on small lakes .I often get them in numbers trolling over channels with #2 BlueFox Spinners late March earl April.
Another scenario is mid August at mid lake following baifish rises trolling a shad rap .When you're on them ,drifting worm pieces will take a bunch. Yes they taste good but as Bruce explained once on another discussion the bigger ones have a bad tasting strip that neds to be cut out .Bruce can help you better with that.
They can be found with Yellows , Crappie and Gills under willow tree areas in early spring also.

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on December 13, 2010 at 7:51am

A 2lb.White Perch is quite a fish !Never seen them that big! Gotta be 15 " .12 " is probably the biggest I 've seen.Gotta start fishing bigger waters .

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on December 14, 2010 at 3:17pm

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/artwhtperch.htm

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on November 8, 2012 at 3:45pm

Nice. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by chris on December 14, 2010 at 4:59pm

i catch a lot of them trolling spoons for small blue fish. when we hit a school we anchor and start casting. also you can get them on shad darts and other jigs. the 2 lbrs are right around 15 inches and fight better than just about any thing.

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on December 18, 2010 at 8:02am

White Perch do fight harder than Yellows that's for sure! Would love to find a bunch of 2 lbers!

Permalink Reply by chris on December 18, 2010 at 9:14am

i find in tidal waters they school according to size so if i catch a big one we will troll over that same spot.

Permalink Reply by Jim Gronaw on December 18, 2010 at 9:44am

We got into the white perch at Marburg Lake last May when they were up shallow and spawning. Got about 75 in two hours on a simple worm/slip sinker rig. Biggest went 12 inches. We are plagued with lots of small white perch in many of our area reservoirs. They are, however, great eating and much fun on ultra light.

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on December 27, 2010 at 1:33pm

Yes those white Perch can really school up just like the Yellows.75 in two hours ,that's being on them!

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on January 6, 2011 at 1:58pm

4 WHITE PERCH AT CUPSAW LAST EVE BETWEEN 4:30-6:00..9-10" FOUGHT GOOD! SEVERAL GILLS AND SMALL YELLOW PERCH.ALL FISH THROUGH THREE HOLES 12-15 ' SPIKES AND MEALIES

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on January 9, 2011 at 3:58pm

Few more White Perch and One Yellow on Marmouska Jig/spikes 3:00-5:00pm.That hour and1/2 before and 1/2 hr after sunset is my favorite time to ice fish . Crappies,Bass and Gills as well as yellows and whites

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on November 8, 2012 at 3:49pm

I thought this was interesting:

"Some states consider the white perch to be a nuisance species due to its ability to destroy fisheries. They have been associated with the declines in both walleye and white bass populations because they feed heavily on bait fish used by those species and outcompete them for food and space. Many states have enacted laws forbidding possession of live white perch. Additionally, these states recommend not releasing captured white perch back into the water to help control its spread. They live in underwater grasses." - - wiki