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White Perch

White Perch

White Perch are an invasive species in Wisconsin that arrived in the Great Lakes through the Erie and Welland canals around 1950, spreading westward to reach Lake Michigan at Green Bay in May 1988.

White Perch pose ecological concerns as egg predators of native species like walleye and white bass, and compete for zooplankton resources.

Scientific Name: Morone americana

Physical Characteristics:
  • These silvery, greenish-gray fish have a dark, highly domed back and whitish belly, reaching up to 58cm in length.
  • Unlike native White Bass, White Perch lack distinct longitudinal stripes and have 9-10 anal rays with body depth greatest before the dorsal fin.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These euryhaline fish inhabit fresh, brackish and coastal waters, preferring habitats with little cover and muddy/silty/sandy substrates.

Key Locations

  • Lake Superior, Green Bay, Lake Michigan, and tributary streams including the St.
  • Louis River, Lower Fox, Milwaukee, Manitowoc-Sheboygan, Door-Kewaunee, Duck-Pensaukee, and Beartrap-Nemadji watersheds.

Specific Spots

  • Shorelines along bulkheads or grass-lined areas during high tide, drop-off edges in 28-35 foot depths during low tides, shallower 4-9 foot hard bottom areas with scattered vegetation as water warms.

White Perch FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for White Perch in Wisconsin?

Top baits include small minnows (avoid large bull minnows), bloodworms, grass shrimp, nightcrawlers, and peeler crab. Effective lures include Beetle Spins (#1 or #2 with 1/8 oz jig heads in yellow/white), small spoons, Mepps #2 spinners, shad darts, small bucktails, 2-inch curly tail grubs, and Gulp minnows/grubs.

When is the best time to fish for White Perch in Wisconsin?

Continuous open season in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and major tributaries, but first Saturday in May to March 1 in other tributary streams upstream to first dam or lake. Year-round open season with no closed season on Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.

How do you catch White Perch in Wisconsin?

Work lures near shorelines and structure, varying retrieval speed and depth until fish are located.

What do White Perch eat?

White Perch are highly opportunistic feeders with a generalist diet including macroinvertebrates, crustaceans, fish, and notably fish e.g.gs (especially in spring). They consume chironomids, Daphnia, copepods, emerald shiners, gizzard shad, and various zooplankton.

Where do White Perch live in Wisconsin?

These euryhaline fish inhabit fresh, brackish and coastal waters, preferring habitats with little cover and muddy/silty/sandy substrates.

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