White Perch

Range: Nova Scotia to South Carolina, most abundant from the Hudson River to Chesapeake Bay. Landlocked populations live in many lakes and reservoirs, and the species has spread into the Great Lakes region.

Habitat: fresh, brackish and coastal waters. White perch favor tidal rivers and creeks and the upper, less salty parts of estuaries, over mud, silt and sand. Through the seasons:

• Spring: spawning runs start as the water warms in late March, moving upstream into fresh or slightly brackish rivers and creeks to spawn from April into June.
• Summer and fall: open water near shore and quiet reaches of tributaries; catches pick up again from September through November.
• Winter: deeper channels and the lower parts of tributaries. In tidal rivers, look for mud flats that drop into channels 3 to 12 feet deep and fish the ledge between them.

Chum and bottom rigs

White perch feed in schools. Anchor on a ledge or channel edge and chum with grass shrimp, a small handful every minute or so, to bring a school in and hold it. Fish a two-hook high-low rig with small hooks and a light sinker, baited with grass shrimp or short pieces of bloodworm or other worms. A float rig set at different depths shows you where the school is feeding.

Lures

White perch also hit small spinners, small jigs and grubs, alone or tipped with bait.

Winter

In tidal rivers, white perch are most active when the water is in the 40s°F. Sunny late mornings and early afternoons on the outgoing tide, after the sun has warmed the dark mud flats, are best. White perch are also caught through the ice, but salty ice in brackish water is porous and unsafe even when it looks thick.

A light spinning outfit with light line or braid makes white perch great fun. Bring small hooks, high-low rigs, light sinkers, small floats, small jigs and spinners, and grass shrimp or worms. White perch rules vary between fresh and salt water; check your state's regulations.