How to Catch White Perch in Maine

White perch flourish in fresh and salt water throughout various regions of Maine, according to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. White perch spawn in fresh water and migrate to salt water as they grow. The approximately 67,359 acres of lakes, ponds and streams in the state contain white perch and almost every inland water body is open to public fishing. Residents, non-residents and children are welcome to fish for white perch in Maine after obtaining a license.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Printer
  • Fishing license
  • Rod
  • Live bait or lure
  • Measuring tape
  • Cooler
  • Ice
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Instructions

    • 1

      Visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website to obtain a fishing license. Click on "Fishing" at the top of the homepage. Scroll down the left column and click "Licenses and Permits." Click "Forms and Applications" and then click "Fee Fishing License." Fill out form, providing all necessary personal information, where you intended to fish and for how long.

      Licenses come in one-day, three-day, seven-day, fifteen-day or combination packages. One-day licenses are available for a minimal cost and allow you to fish in any public lake, stream or pond for 24 hours. Combination packages offer dual licenses in hunting and fishing, for example, for an additional cost. Children under 16 years old do not need a license. All licenses expire on December 31 of the issued year.

    • 2

      Print your completed application. Mail the application and necessary fee to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Allow 7 to 14 days for your license to arrive at your residence.

    • 3

      Locate a public lake, pond or stream. Southeastern locales, such as Bay Harbor, August and Portland, have high populations of white perch. Mid-state locales, such as Waterville and Dover-Foxcroft, are also wise places to fish for white perch. Stay away from the northern end of the state -- in Houlton and Madawaska, for example -- due to low fish populations.

    • 4

      Choose your bait. Press a tiny crustacean or a grass shrimp, if using live bait, onto a fishing hook. Crustaceans and grass shrimp are preferred food for white perch. Tie a miniature spinner, shad dart or a grub, if using artificial bait. Artificial bait is already connected to a hook. Spinners are especially good by the way they twist in the water and attract the eye of the white perch. Tie the live bait hook or the artificial lure to the end of your fishing line. Bait hooks -- live or artificial -- should be tied in two or three square knots on the tip of the fishing line.

    • 5

      Cast the rod into the water. Grab the rod handle with your hand and press your thumb down upon the reel release button, if using a spin rod. Extend the rod outward, toward the water, and release thumb pressure at the same time to release the line. Spin the reel handle slowly and continuously until a fish bites. If a fish does not bite, repeat casting process.

      Pull six feet of excess fishing line slack directly out of the reel if you are using a flying fishing rod. Hold the rod handle with one hand and the excess slack with another. Whip the rod over the shoulder of the hand holding the rod. Whip the rod forward and drop slack at the same time to release fishing line out onto water. Slowly pull fishing line back in until a fish bites. If a fish does not bite, repeat the casting process.

    • 6

      Keep any white perch 8 to 10 inches long, weighing at least .45 pounds. Release all others. Fishing limits in Maine extend to 20 fish per day. Place all captured fish into a cooler layered with ice.