My best lake for white perch has been Harris. The three I caught below were in warm weather and the massive amount caught in one throw of a cast net was also warm weather. Not sure how to target them this time of year.
After concentrating my efforts on fly fishing for many years, I felt the urge to get my boat out on Falls Lake and try to catch some fish for a “food challenged” family. From what I was able to find on the internet, I thought white perch would be the best target…good eating, easy to catch a bunch when you get into them AND helping reduce the population of a problem species. I searched the web for everything I could find on wintertime white perch fishing, especially on the lakes around Raleigh. I went out last week on Falls Lake; found bait balls with larger fish suspended in 25’+; used the vertical jigging techniques shown in this video Showing Rig Used To Catch White Perch - YouTube AND CAUGHT NOTHING! Surface water temp around 47 degrees. A humbling experience!
I’d like to try again tomorrow since the weather/temps look good. I need your help, please! I’m not asking for your honey hole, just your input on how to catch keeper-size white perch this time of year in Falls, Kerr, Jordan or Harris Lakes.
BigDawgg LIKED above post
The ones I caught couple weeks back were in the channel near bottom in 30+ foot water. Massive school of fish there.
Cold water fish are a little slower. Try night crawlers cut into 1" pieces.
BigDawgg LIKED above post
I caught a bunch at Ferrington bridge on the bottom with night crawlers cut in pieces.
That was about 2 to 3 weeks ago.
JordanLimit
That's a slab perch for sure. You could stick two thumbs in his mouth. Gaston has given me some jumbo perch this year but mostly around 11".
Jim
US Navy Gunner's mate 1984-1990
Lowball check your PM box. Got a little info for you.
Floating K9--if you don't mind me asking, did you get any bluegill or shellcracker with those perch? A year ago with the LiveScope I saw the channel near Farrington like a beehive it was so active with fish. Never had a chance to go back, but there sure was a lot of activity in the bottom of the channel. I always thought they were probably gizzard shad, but maybe it is panfish in there.
Jordon limit Caught 1 bluegill.
I was also on live scope . The bottom lit up like a Xmas tree. Saw fish heading to the bottom. Used night crawlers and hit the bottom with it and slowly brought it up and they chased after it.
We fished for about an hour or less and ran out of worms. It was also time to leave.
We caught about 15 or 20 and 1 was a bluegill.
Thanks to all you who provided suggestions! I only managed to get out for about 2 hours yesterday and had to fish Falls Lake because of my time limitations. I did try tight lining minnows on the bottom but had no luck. I really want to get to Jordan and Harris Lakes which I think have better populations of crappie and white perch. Apparently it is going to take awhile to get the hang of it! My next trip will be to Farrington and I will have some night crawlers!