UTERWhite perch fishing in Maine freshwater
In Maine freshwater, white perch peak May–June and September–October and December–February and are around year-round, spawning in May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: White perch through the ice on the Belgrades and the southern ponds.
No note for October — see the months around it.
White perch in Maine freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWhite perch through the ice on the Belgrades and the southern ponds.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchAround
- AprilArriving
- MaySpawning
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish white perch near Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake, Rangeley Lakes
The brook trout and landlocked salmon state: thousands of cold lakes and ponds, famous rivers like the Kennebec and Grand Lake Stream, togue in the deep lakes, and bass in the southern lakes.
What to use for white perch
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 44–84°F water, best at 56–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch white perch in Maine freshwater?
Peak season is May–June and September–October and December–February, with fish spawning in May (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). White perch are here year-round. January: White perch through the ice on the Belgrades and the southern ponds.
Where do white perch hold in Maine freshwater?
Look on dock / pilings, bridge, creek / stream, river — around Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake, Rangeley Lakes, Grand Lake Stream, Kennebec River, Belgrade Lakes.
What is the best bait for white perch in Maine freshwater?
Live bait: grass shrimp, bloodworms, minnows (fatheads, shiners). Grass shrimp: Two or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for white perch in Maine freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and change — read the current rule at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/laws-rules/index.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/licenses-permits/index.html.
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All about white perch · Maine fresh water, the whole year