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Crappie Vs. Perch
Both crappie and perch are popular panfish that produce flaky white meat. They will both go after the same baits and lures but there are notable differences.
Crappie are part of the sunfish family. Perch are part of the walleye family. The crappie will have a slight green color to their upper bodies, but only in certain parts of the country. In other parts of their bodies are white with a silver tone and either black stripes or black flecks/spots. The perch, however, have backs that are green and change to yellow or orange depending on the species.
Perch are found in North America and can reach up to 15 inches and 2.2 pounds. These fish are carnivorous and are found in streams, rivers, lakes, and small ponds. Their preferred bait is shellfish, insect larvae, and smaller fish. Perch usually spawn during the spring.
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They are found in abundance in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. Perch will put up a fight and are popular sport fish by a lot of anglers. There are a variety of ways to catch a perch; lure fishing, float fishing, and legering.
We are going to explore some tips on how kids can easily catch perch. It is something that dads enjoy doing with their children when they reach a certain age. The normal perch is about 7-9 inches long which will provide a lot of excitement for kids when they catch their first one. Anything over 10 inches is called a ‘jumbo’.
The first thing you have to do is make sure you have the proper equipment or your youngster. With perch being smaller fish you do not need expensive rods & reels. An affordable, yet simple, rod & reel will be sufficient for the beginner. Your test line only needs to be six to eight pounds.
My next tip for you is the right bait to entice the perch. Live minnows, or insect larvae are suggested. If you are unable to get live bait then you can use spinners, jigs, or plugs. Since perch are smaller fish, they move quickly so make sure you use a lure that is easy for you and your children to keep track of.
Time of day is your next obstacle. Like most other fish, perch are more active during feeding time. A general consensus is early morning or late afternoon, but varies depending on the season.
Perch are drawn to deep water and objects that block sunlight and that give them places to hide. Perch fishing from the dock or shore will give your child a great chance of catching their first fish. Fish near overhanging trees and look for a spot that has a steep drop-off into deep water.
If you live in Canada or happen to be going there on vacation, then you should plan a trip for the end of August. This is when the annual kids perch day is held, in Ontario. This event is located on the dock of Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.
All children up to age 15 are welcome to join this event. The fun begins at 10 a.m. and ends around 2 p.m.. The participants can look forward to rods & reels, bicycles, and other prizes at the conclusion of the perch derby.
Some interesting facts about the perch:
- They are poor swimmers
- The adult is golden, while the younger (juveniles) are more white
- Sometimes the schools are separated into male and female groups
- Other species in the perch family are walleye, sauger, and darters.
Kids love learning about everything! So you can give them some fun facts about the perch before you take them out on their first fishing trip. Then you have something to talk about on the way, and things to point out after they reel in that first perch.
Besides Lake Erie, perch can be found in the drainages of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. They are normally found around vegetation in clear water, and during the springtime you can find them in large schools close to the shore. This will give the kiddos the chance to see them swimming around, before they cast out their line.
One final thing about perch; there are white perch and yellow perch. But did you know that white perch are not really perch at all? They are actually a type of Temperate Bass and are very closely related to the striped bass. Yellow perch are actual ‘true perch’. They are genetically similar to the walleye.
Some other distinctive features between crappie and perch:
White Perch
- Silvery white with no stripes
- 8-10 inches and up to 1 pound
- Their pelvic fin is longer, narrowly attached, and perpendicularly oriented
- Distribution from South Carolina to the Saint Lawrence River (Canada) and prominent in the Chesapeake Bay area
Yellow Perch
- Brownish-yellow, with vertical triangular bars
- 4-10 inches and 4 oz to 12 oz
- Their pelvic fins are shorter, attached across its width, and longitudinally oriented
- South Carolina to Nova Scotia & around the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes
So we have given you the differences between the crappie and perch, some fun facts about perch, and fishing tips for the first time you take your kiddos out to catch a perch.
We also provided you with the prominent distinctions between the white perch and yellow perch. You should now have a good idea and be up to speed on almost anything perch.
So pick a spot on the map, and pick one of the spots that we listed as having a good supply of perch and set your vacation. Take your family and maybe your friends and go have some fun on a boat, or maybe hang out with the kids on shore and watch the excitement on their eyes.
Make sure you capture their smiles and record their laughs. It will be one of the best vacations that you have ever taken. As always, make sure to check fishing rules, regulations and make sure anyone over 16 has a fishing license and have a great time fishing!
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