Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens. Golden-yellow body with 6 to 8 broad, dark vertical bands running from back to belly.
Photos
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Identification
- Golden-yellow body with 6 to 8 broad, dark vertical bands running from back to belly.
- Forked tail fin and a dorsal fin divided into two distinct sections.
- Typically 7 to 10 inches, with quality waters producing fish 10 to 14 inches.
Depth by season
| Season | Depth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | – | Spawns in April-May; fishing improves once spawning finishes. |
| Summer | – | Best fishing of the year; schools relate to drop-offs, working from bottom upward. |
| Fall | – | Catch rates fall as the water cools and schools move offshore, which pushes anglers out of casting range from shore. |
| Winter | 20–50 ft | Fish move to deeper water and feed almost exclusively off the bottom. |
Active times
- dawn
- day
- dusk
Top lures
- Small jig (jig , chartreuse/white/pink): Tipped with maggots, wax worms, or shrimp and worked near bottom at drop-offs.
- Small spoon (spoon , silver/gold): Vertically jigged near bottom, especially through the ice in winter.
- Small inline spinner (spinner , silver/chartreuse): Cast and retrieved slowly near bottom structure and drop-offs.
Top baits
- Worm: Small piece on a fine hook below a light bobber sized to show subtle bites.
- Maggots or wax worms: Tipped onto a small jig or bare hook, fished near bottom at drop-offs.
Line & tackle
- Line: 2–8 lb
- Rod power: Light graphite spinning rod for detecting subtle bites
- Hook sizes: Size 6 or 8 single hook, long or short shank, in place of a treble
Stocked behavior
Yellow perch have extremely high reproductive potential and mature early, so a population that takes hold keeps itself going without repeat plants. The most productive fisheries are usually larger lakes and reservoirs; many smaller lakes and ponds end up overpopulated, with mature fish stunted to 4 to 6 inches by competition for food.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a spot too soon; perch travel in tight schools, so one bite often means more are nearby.
- Fishing bare bottom instead of drop-offs; schools relate strongly to depth changes.
- Missing the nibbles; perch are notorious bait thieves, so small, fine hooks and a sensitive float hook more of them.
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2.75 lbs | Larry Benthien | Snelson's Slough, Skagit County | 1969 |
| Utah | 2 lbs. 11 oz. | Ray Johnson | Yuba Reservoir | 1984 |
Sources: Washington's official record page , Utah's official record page , accessed 2026-09-19.
Where it's stocked
2 locations shown. Click a pin for details.
Utah
Sources
- identification (accessed 2026-09-18)
- identification (accessed 2026-09-19)
- depth_by_season (accessed 2026-09-18)
- active_times (accessed 2026-09-19)
- top_lures (accessed 2026-09-18)
- top_baits (accessed 2026-09-18)
- line_and_tackle (accessed 2026-09-18)
- common_mistakes (accessed 2026-09-18)
- common_mistakes (accessed 2026-09-19)
- stocked_behaviour (accessed 2026-09-18)
- stocked_behaviour (accessed 2026-09-19)
- line_and_tackle (accessed 2026-09-19)