There is a pretty big lake near by that is holding decent amount of White Perch. Since they are almost as feisty as smallies my wife and I like to go after them. What patterns would work? Water is fairly clear. From the boat I can see the bottom up to about 8-9 ft.
White Perch? Are you talking about White Bass? If so White Streamers, Chartreuse Streamers or Clouser type flies which have a minnow shape to them. I tie mine on size 6 to 8 hook 4X long.
Hobo
Wite perch is a member of Temperate Bass family (Striper, Wiper, Wjite bass etc) but it is different spiecies.
They grow a lot smaller.
Here is description
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/pafish/fishhtms/chap21.htm#whperch
Mikie,
Some of the first fishing of the year around here is for white perch. Being anadromous, they start their spawning run about the second or third week of March. I look for these sea run fish in coves off of large rivers.You got to pick your days 'cause it can be very cold and windy
Most people I see out are fishing minnows or small spoons. I’ve read of people casting to perch rising to a hatch in lakes, but never seen anyone else target the sea run fish with flys.
The only fly that has worked for me is similar to the crappie candy in the fly archives. A small charteuse bonefish kinda thing.
I know that this does nothing to answer your question, as your landlocked fish most likly are much different than the sea-runs. I just thought the information might interest you.
try a black wooly bugger or in olive.
good luck
It’s just too funny. I’ve searched this site yesterday and did not found anythig on white perch. While googling today i have found this:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/feature … 11705.html
I guess I need to pay more attention to my typing skills.
Hi Micky,
Als Crappie candy here: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … 1fotw.html
This pattern in white with Arctic fox tailing has
been very effective for me in recent years with the
white perch. Give it a try. Warm regards, Jim
i havent tried fly fishing for them YET, but snything that imitates a grass shrimp, minnow, or worm should work, as the local baits of choice are bloodworms, minnows and grass shimp
there are white perch all over the place here, in saltwater. i love to fish for them using in line spinners. never tried fly fishign. would like to tho.
Mikeyfinn, RW here
I wrote a feature article for FAOL about two years ago that included pictures of the white perch on a 1-weight fly rod. I lived in Maine for 15 years where the white perch is the number one panfish. Click on the archives section of Readers Casts and scroll down until you find “The Contest”. I also mentioned some of the lures and flies we use for them. White perch generally run from 1- to 3-pounds and they fight like the devil for the first minute or two. White perch are not really perch, they are members of the seabass family which includes the striper and the white bass. They are excellent eating too.
Later, RW
Echoing some of the same comments already made. Last March the white perch made their run up the James here in Virginia. They signal the start of the season here. It was impossible NOT to catch them, and I had such a blast with them. Had success on purprle, green, and yellow Woolly Buggers (beadhead), red terrestrial patterns (dont know the name), and really just about anything that was flashy and got down in the current. Might be a different story for lake bound perch, but the flashy patterns seemed to draw interest on nearly every cast. So much so, the stripper fisherman were trying to figure out ways NOT to catch them. They absolutely infiltrate the James, then the strippers come, then the shad, then the smallmouth…is it March yet?