Bistineau White Perch

[J.D.]

I grew up bass fishing Bistineau, but I'm ashamed to say I never spent any time learning how to catch white perch out there or on any other lake, I'm a total green-horn when it comes to perch.  My brother-in-law wants to go out there this weekend and try the perch, so I humbly ask if anyone can provide some insite on how to make this a successful trip.  I'm familiar with the lake, and I've always heard of folks catching them around the Port-o-Bistineau this time of year.  But what I don't know is shinners? jigs? colors? depths?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.   

[ALKbassfisherman333]

Small chartreuse and pink jigs usually do well on Caddo and Bistineau

[J.D.]

Thanks ALK; do you prefer hair jigs or the plastic tubes?  Or does it matter.

[Splycer]

I was fishing with Minnows last weekend and a guy came by trolling up and down the channel with yellow jigs and was pulling them in left and right.

Sad to say my jig box was at home.

[ALKbassfisherman333]

If they're wanting to feel and eat something the tubes will do it, but if they are looking more for bulk and a bigger diet, a small bucktail jig will do the trick. I suggest chartreuse and pink, or blue . But just fish what's comfortable and have fun with it 

[J.D.]

Thanks for the help!  I've heard there's a coulple of ways to rig the jigs.  I've been told just get a long crappie pole and let the jig hang tight without a bobber, just drifting and trying different depths until you find the zone they're holding.  The other rig that I'm familiar with is runing your line through a slip cork with a bobber stop and making casts and popping it all the way back to the boat.  Is there a better/prefered method of the two when it come to fishing Bistineau?

[Splycer]

most everyone I see out there is using 8+ ft crappie poles and tight lining depending on where the fish are holding.

I bought 2 8 ft crappie max poles last month and i like them.  I have been able to feel light bites and strikes.

I would recommend them if you can afford to get an extra pole  I  wish I got the 10 ft one but they didn't have any with cork handles only foam so i went with the 8 ft ones.

[bassincali]

is a White Perch  the same as a a white bass that looks like a small stripper?

[coldfront]

is a White Perch  the same as a a white bass that looks like a small stripper?

white perch is local terminology for crappie.

not sure what you folks out in Cali call a stripper...be some of us know one when we see one here...


now, if you go up north into New England states, then yes, a white perch looks a lot like a small striper...or a white bass.

[bassincali]

thanks strippers is strippers here i used to live on the mississippi river and caught a ton of white bass

[ALKbassfisherman333]

In far northern states there is a fish actually called a white perch, but down here just our regular ole tasty crappie 

[BassBUFF]

And a little further south they're called sac-a-lait.

[coldfront]

thanks strippers is strippers here i used to live on the mississippi river and caught a ton of white bass

this is the most 'family friendly' striPPer image I could find.

would never mistake this for a white perch...