Foot long fish with brightly fringed fins?
 

Bass fishing today we found a school of fish in 2 differents bays in water from 4-7 ft deep that had distinctly colored fringes to their fins. My first thought was a trout like brookies but the bodies were more bass like. Fish were about a foot long and the schools seemed to be 20+ in one school and 30+ in the other. Could these be white perch? Couldnt get a a clear view even with the fish going under the boat but 4 feet down.
Also the second school appeared to be following a 4 to 5 lb fish of the same type.

Once in a while at this time of year I have seen the white perch school up like you have described, but I have also seen these roaming around in schools as well.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fish...te-sucker.html

Oh yes
 

Now that you mention it the fin fringe is something I have seen before but in rivers, and that was schools of suckers. I think you nailed it.

bright fringe around fins
 

These are very probably "SUCKERS" They have a pronounced whiteish/yellowish fringe around the outer edge of their pectoral(side) fins. They are in the shallows, and in the Weirs channel this time of year spawning. The trout and salmon are chowing down on their row(eggs)

Winni Bob