Yellow perch

Identification and biology

Perca flavescens has yellow to brassy sides crossed by seven dark vertical bars, two separate dorsal fins and no canine teeth (Michigan and Iowa DNRs). Its native range runs from Nova Scotia west to Great Slave Lake and south through the Great Lakes and Mississippi basins to Ohio, Illinois and Nebraska, with Atlantic-slope populations south to South Carolina, and USGS records stockings well beyond that. Michigan DNR gives an average adult of 4 to 10 inches and 4 to 10 ounces; Vermont Fish & Wildlife reports 8- to 12-inch fish as common and lives of eight to ten years. Growth depends on how many perch share the food: Michigan notes that crowded lakes produce stunted fish that may never pass six inches.

Spawning and diet

Perch spawn shortly after ice-out, in April or early May in Wisconsin, at water temperatures of about 45 to 52°F; Vermont gives 44 to 54°F and Iowa 45 to 55°F. They build no nest. Females lay long, ribbon-like gelatinous strands of eggs over weeds, roots, brush and sand bars, and Iowa DNR notes a single female may be followed by 15 to 25 males. Adults eat insect larvae, crayfish and other invertebrates, fish eggs and small fish, and in Iowa's natural lakes midge larvae and mayflies make up much of the diet. Walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and bass all prey on them.

Where the schools go through the year

Michigan DNR describes perch as schooling fish of fairly shallow water near shore, rarely taken deeper than 30 feet, holding shallower in spring and fall than in midsummer. They move toward shore to feed in the morning and evening, feed through the day in spring and fall, rest on the bottom at night and stay active under the ice all winter. Iowa and Vermont both note that the larger fish use deeper, more open water while small ones stay near shore, and Vermont adds that schools sort themselves by size. Michigan says perch prefer water of 66 to 70°F and often follow the 68°F layer as it moves with the seasons.

The mistakes that cost fish

Staying put after the bites stop: Wisconsin DNR's advice is to try a spot a few times and keep moving until a school turns up. Fishing too big: perch eat minnows, worms and insect larvae, so small hooks and small baits match what they are looking for. And sorting through little fish in one place waiting for big ones, when Vermont notes that perch school by size; a change of depth or area is the better bet for larger fish.

Temperature range

Tackle setups

Playbook by water temperature

Month by month

Best waters for yellow perch

152 waters we report on where this species is one of the main fish, each with a daily report.

Common questions