CK's question on White Perch

Crappiekid posed the question in Charles' post as to where are the White Perch since mostly Crappie were caught.
Good question.
From what I've read, the WP is a cousin of the Striped Bass and White Bass. I also read they spawn earlier than Crappie and pose a threat because they eat so many Crappie fry.
I can only assume the WP make spawning runs in the creeks and rivers like their two cousins.
If that is in fact true, why do you not hear of huge catches of WP in spawning runs?
Most of us that fished for White Bass have been in runs where you caught a fish on almost every cast as the big schools came through on their annual run. Same thing is true for Striped Bass.
There are zillions of WP in most of our reservoirs. I think they have pulled a fast one on us fishermen and are doing something different in the spawn.
We need to figure that out because I suspect there's a spot somewhere that you could wear your arm out on spawning perch.

I ran into a small school on Saturday. They were on a flat at the mouth of a secondary creek. The flat was about 15-17 FOW. The size that were in this school were all bigger females (at least the ones that made the trip home).

Did they still have eggs?

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Originally Posted by Fullthrottle

I ran into a small school on Saturday. They were on a flat at the mouth of a secondary creek. The flat was about 15-17 FOW. The size that were in this school were all bigger females (at least the ones that made the trip home).

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Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

They were full of them.

I keep thinking someone will hit the mother load and put 40-50 big females in the boat, all bursting with eggs. We need to crack that pattern if we ever hope to level the population.

There's a perch run up catawba creek, if you post up on the other side of the bridge 50 yards or so(going towards the back of the creek) and anchor on the edge of the channel, you can generally find lots of jumbos on every drop. Red worms dyed chartreuse with worm glo will get you more bites than you can handle from some big fish. I don't live there anymore and don't mind burning up my honey hole. And quite frankly those perch need heavy harvest from everyone.

I agree that white perch are an invasive species that negatively impact fisheries all over the Eastern United States. Now that I have my boat, I plan on putting a hurt on the white perch population at Shearon Harris Lake here in Central North Carolina.
I have harped and harped for everyone to stop turning white perch loose... but it seems I am constantly hearing about people releasing these critters along with the rest of their catch.
It seems like they just don't get it. But, I will guarantee you that they will be the first ones complaining the loudest when their fisheries are ruined by white perch overpopulation.

and they also a good table fare !!! they eat good !!!

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Originally Posted by strmwalker

and they also a good table fare !!! they eat good !!!

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I forgot to mention that... but they are indeed excellent table fare for sure.

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

Crappiekid posed the question in Charles' post as to where are the White Perch since mostly Crappie were caught.
Good question.
From what I've read, the WP is a cousin of the Striped Bass and White Bass. I also read they spawn earlier than Crappie and pose a threat because they eat so many Crappie fry.
I can only assume the WP make spawning runs in the creeks and rivers like their two cousins.
If that is in fact true, why do you not hear of huge catches of WP in spawning runs?
Most of us that fished for White Bass have been in runs where you caught a fish on almost every cast as the big schools came through on their annual run. Same thing is true for Striped Bass.
There are zillions of WP in most of our reservoirs. I think they have pulled a fast one on us fishermen and are doing something different in the spawn.
We need to figure that out because I suspect there's a spot somewhere that you could wear your arm out on spawning perch.

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Hi Searay I hope you are doing well. I thought my ears were ringing my name. lol :biggrin I brought that up be cause I was talking to Charles and he said he usually catches perch with crappie this time of year. Last week with Wylie Guy we were long lining for crappie. After we had enough I wanted to show Ron how to search for Perch because he wanted to take Grandson out to catch perch. So we talked about when the schools were running and fun times for sure. But there are times when the perch are tough to find especially when they are spread out.
So we went to a point and I was showing you see nothing on 2d sonar. I had split screen 2d sonar and down imaging. But with down imaging you can see small dots separated from bottom barely. I said I see now 4 dots drop down rigs. He used minnows and I used redworms. We caught some perch. Moved a little around point and saw some more on down image just off of bottom. Drop rigs and we caught some more. Did this about five times on point and decided to leave.

So even on 2d sonar you don't see anything go to down image and you will see the separation from bottom.

Wateree Sunday, fishing out of Beaver creek, the very small morning bite had died and I was fishing a secondary creek along with 4 or so other boats, who all ended up moving on. It was 11 am or so and the lake was filling up with pontoons and jetskis, getting to be unfishable. One boat had stayed in the creek, anchored, and they were slaying the wp. I had to come up to them to comment about it. They were on a flat, no remarkable structure, 15 fow or so and fan casting out, fishing on the bottom with worms. I don't think any of them had to wait over a minute or two before reeling in another. I told them nice job and went on my way. I had previously caught perch in that creek on minnows but none for me that morning.

The white perch definitely run up the creeks and rivers to spawn. The places I have found them best is the mouth of little side creeks off the main river in the headwaters of the lakes. Like someone mentioned they tend to run earlier than the stripers and hybrids. Mostly in March from what I have seen. If you find a spot loaded with spawning perch it will typically be productive year after year. They were running good just before the last big slug of rain and mud. Have been or heard since.