YELLOW PERCH (Perca flavescens) are an excellent way to add variety to your fishery. Though commonly found in large lakes, they thrive in small ponds throughout the Midwest and can be fished for year-round. Juvenile yellow perch commonly school together seeking food and safety. This schooling behavior means you’ll often catch several fish in quick succession. Not only is this popular sport fish fun to catch – it’s also excellent table fare. Because yellow perch are active year-round, they’re a great species for ice fishing.
Yellow perch readily take floating fish food pellets. Supplementing their diets with fish food not only increases their growth rates but also the number of fish your pond or lake can support. As they grow, their diet transitions from aquatic invertebrates to small fish. Supplemental stockings of fathead minnows and golden shiner minnows are necessary to support the perch and other predators in your pond or lake. Stock yellow perch today for a strong fighting, easy to catch and tasty fish.
ALIAS: Lake perch, ringed perch, American perch, raccoon perch, ring-tailed perch
IDENTIFICATION: Oblong, moderately compressed; brassy green to golden yellow above with 5-8 dusky bars across back almost to belly. Mouth extends to middle of eye; no canine teeth; preopercle serrate. Dorsal and caudal fins dusky to olive; pelvic and anal fins light grayish green to reddish orange; dorsal fins separate; 2 anal fin spines, 6-8 soft rays. Lateral line complete, 53-59 scales; cheek and opercle scaled.
DIET: Small fish, insects, snails, leeches and crayfish.
HABITAT: Open areas in streams, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with clear water and aquatic vegetation.
SPAWNING: Mid-March to early-May when water temperatures are 50-60°F. They lay long egg strands onto submerged structure; no parental care is provided
FISHING TIPS: Perch are most often caught in the spring and fall using fathead minnows, golden shiner minnows and night crawlers fished near the bottom.
USE: Available East Slope (East of Continental Divide); West Slope – CPW Authorization Required; Call to Confirm Pricing & Availability
Yellow Perch not suggested for ponds reaching 80+ degrees in summertime.