True "white perch" are actually a type of bass from genus Morone. The other species in the genus are the White Bass, Striped Bass, and the Yellow Bass.

Since the OP is in Michigan, then they certainly could be White Perch. I believe there is a chance they could also be Yellow Bass. I do not believe that either species would be desirable in his ponds! I believe it is analogous to having a pond with a large population of stunted crappie. However, Michigan is far from any places that I have fished, so the experts should feel free to correct me on any bad information!


Dergib,

What is the water source for your ponds? The reason I ask is that it might be better for you to start over again with exactly the fish species you want rather than spending years fighting an unwinnable war. If you just have surface water running in from fields then you have 100% control. If a creek sometimes floods and those waters reach your ponds, then your population will contain fish from the creek populations. I hate to lose 5# LMB, but you might be better off in the medium run and the long run doing a fish kill if you have 100% control of your water inputs.




I think everyone on the forum will agree with the advice for "more structure". LMB actually need some structure to feed efficiently since they are typically "ambush" predators. If they had more timber in medium and deep water, then they might be able to eat more of your white perch.

I assume your ponds get heavy ice cover in the winter? If so, some of our northern members have used the ice cover to place heavy items in position, and then the spring thaw gets the structure to the pond bottom.




Do you have any plants around the shoreline? Some plantings at the edge will utilize nutrients from the pond and make less available to your undesirable aquatic plants. However, you need plants that spread at the rate you want. (Typically that is slowly to almost no spreading.)

Another option is pond dyes. You have some long days during the summer being that far north. I think if you let all of your pond life get started properly in the spring, then your pond may be fertile enough, that you can cut some sunlight to the aquatic plants during the summer and barely affect the overall productivity of your pond.

If you give some more information about your pond and your goals, then maybe the aeration experts will weigh in with some good advice.

Good luck on your pond improvement projects!