What Are White Perch?

White perch are an invasive species in Nebraska waters. Although they may look similar to white bass, they are not native to our lakes and can cause serious harm to local fish populations. They reproduce quickly, compete with native species for food, and can disrupt the natural balance of our fisheries.

How to Identify a White Perch

Silvery‑white body with faint or no stripes

Deep, rounded body shape

Spiny dorsal fin connected to the soft dorsal fin

Typically 6–10 inches long in Nebraska waters

Often confused with white bass — but white bass have strong horizontal stripes

If you're unsure whether a fish is a white perch, ask a volunteer — we’re happy to help!

White perch are a silvery, flat bodied fish with (1) 3 anal fin spines that are not stair-stepped (second and third anal spine length nearly equal); (2) sides nearly plain or may have faint stripes; (3) 2 dorsal fins that are slightly connected; and (4) no teeth on base of tongue. It is a non-native, temperate bass. Once it becomes established, it has a tendency to become overpopulated and stunt if there are not sufficient predators present. It is a schooling fish and primarily feeds on microcrustaceans (small zooplankton), immature aquatic insects, crayfish, small fish, and fish eggs.

Range: Sandpits along lower Salt Creek and Platte River drainages, lower Platte River and Missouri River, and some southeast reservoirs.

White Perch are a Category 2 invasive species that are currently present in Nebraska but with limited distribution. They are considered highly unwanted species and all efforts should be taken to prevent the expansion of their population. 

Aquatic Invasive Species were introduced to new environments in a variety of manners, sometimes intentionally and sometimes by mistake. In early years of fishery management, a popular stocking method was to stock a wide variety of fish to determine what worked. White perch, a species that has caused considerable problems in the eastern third of Nebraska, was introduced in this manner. 

White Perch are native to the east coast and were brought to Nebraska in the 1960s as an experiment to see if they would live in alkaline sandhill lakes. They were raised at the Valentine Hatchery and a stocking of largemouth bass in both Wagon Train and Stagecoach lakes, south of Lincoln, accidentally contained white perch. Over the years this species became established in those water bodies. Since then they have spread to such lakes as Branched Oak and Pawnee. At this time, regulations make it illegal to move live white perch from any water body for any purpose. 

White perch have the capability to dominate a total fish community, virtually eliminating natural recruitment of most species and greatly reducing survival of hatchery stocked species. 

Information on this page provided by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at outdoornebraska.gov