White Perch

Top baits include nightcrawlers (broken into quarter pieces), grass shrimp, small minnows, bloodworms, and various small live baits. Effective lures include 1-2 inch soft plastics like twister tails, small Fin-S plastics, Bass Assassins, and tiny swim shads in white, yellow, chartreuse, and brown colors.

White Perch fishing in Indiana is most productive during late spring through fall, with prime action occurring from late March through October. They spawn when water temperatures reach 60-68°F in late spring, typically May-June, during which time fishing should be avoided to protect spawning activities.

Fish baits either under floats or with split shot on bottom. Work small lures with twitches near bottom. Three-jig rigs with Charlie Brewer-style jigs are highly effective for catching multiple fish.

White Perch are opportunistic predators that heavily consume fish eggs - particularly walleye, white bass, and their own species' eggs, often making up 100% of their diet during spring spawning periods. They also feed on zooplankton, small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, and minnows.

In Indiana waters, they prefer shallow areas (6-12 feet deep) with little cover and muddy/silty substrates, though they can be found as deep as 360 feet in some waters. Outside of spawning, they school heavily and move between deep winter refugia and shallow feeding areas.