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Thread: White Bass or White Perch -- Which is it???

  1. #1
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    Default White Bass or White Perch -- Which is it???


    Well the weather didn’t cooperate with me today. I was planning to fish Harris again today but when I woke up this morning it was raining and the weatherman was talking more was coming with big wind later in the day. I thought it might be a good day to put a question to the Crappie.com forum for discussion or debate.

    I am a very social-sort of fisherman and I love to talk to others who are plying their favorite fishing spots and (of course) the conversation always starts something like this: “What did you catch today?” or “Are you doin’ any good?” or “Are you having any luck?” which, as you know, are all questions that are aimed to get others to talk and tell you how they have done that day.
    Almost every single time other fishermen will say something like: “I’ve caught 20some or 30some crappie -- (whatever the number might be) -- and about a half dozen white perch” or they might follow-up with the statement, “I can’t seem to catch any crappie because of those damned white perch”.

    I have been fishing Jordan & Harris Lakes here in Central North Carolina for many years now and there is one issue that keeps coming up between me and other fishermen – especially in the fall and winter months and that issue is: White Bass or White Perch?

    You know what I am talking about – those silver white small-mouthed fish that you catch while crappie or bass fishing that bristle their fins and flare their razor-like gill plates when landed and can inflict serious pain and bleeding if you don’t handle them carefully. They seem to range in size (in this area) from a quarter of a pound to around four pounds; they are fun to catch and are quite aggressive scrappers especially when you catch them on light tackle such as most of us use while crappie fishing.
    But, you continually hear most area fisherman refer to these fish as white perch.

    O.K. Crappie.com forum – This issue is in your hands to decide. Are these White Perch or White Bass? Please tell us all about your opinion and your experiences with these fish and whether or not you keep them to eat and how you prepare them and/or your recipes.

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    Last edited by Special K; 10-26-2010 at 11:15 AM. Reason: Just because
    "Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17

  2. #2
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    I would call that a White Bass. I'll keep them if they are big enough.

  3. #3
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    The ones that flare those gills are white bass. I too keep them if they are large enough to fillet. The rib section is longer than that of a crappie so you don't get as much meat from them. I fry them up just like my crappie and I can hardly tell the difference.

    Just get him on, then we'll worry about getting him in!

  4. #4
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    Thanks for your response REDBOAT, me too -- I always called them White Bass, and I too -- always keep 'em if they're big enough -- and I love to eat 'em.
    It seems like I am starting to catch better volumes of White Bass and they seem to be getting bigger. I have always noticed that you seem to catch more and bigger white bass later in the fall and into the winter. Has that been your experience too?
    "Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by CrappieKrazy View Post
    The ones that flare those gills are white bass. I too keep them if they are large enough to fillet. The rib section is longer than that of a crappie so you don't get as much meat from them. I fry them up just like my crappie and I can hardly tell the difference.
    Thanks for the response CK. I agree 100% that these are White Bass and not White Perch and I too, love to eat 'em. Are you catching as many White Bass at Jordan as you are at Harris Lake?
    What sort of volumes and sizes are you catching lately?
    "Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17

  6. #6
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    I usually catch more white bass than white perch in HR. White perch and white bass are in the same "Moronidae" family of fish. A white perch is really not a perch. The main difference are the lines running the length of the white bass body.

    Here is white perch pic. No lines...


  7. #7
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    Heres a decent pic of both fish.The white bass is on top and perch on the bottom.The perch flare their gills the most.
    HEY,,WATCH THAT YELLOW ROD
    Likes Clod LIKED above post

  8. #8
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    Default Body of water

    can also help solve the mystery

    Harris = White Perch
    Jordan = Both
    Falls = Both
    greggofish.com

  9. #9
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    Appreciate your contributing to the discussion sundance. I agree with you -- I definitely catch more white bass than white perch in Harris and in Jordan Lakes.
    "Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17

  10. #10
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    Appreciate you taking the time to send your comments bearclaw. The pics are good showing the subtle differences between the two fish.
    Good luck to you and I hope to speak to you again online and on the water.
    "Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17

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