Yellow Perch

What it looks like

• light yellow body
• 6 to 8 dark, vertical bands on sides
• 2 separate dorsal fins  
• large mouth, extending to below the middle of the eye

Size

• length: 15-30 centimetres (6-12 inches)
• weight: 0.35 kilograms (0.75 pounds)
• Ontario record: 1.1 kilograms (2.4 pounds)

Similar fish

• Walleye
• White Perch

Where it is found

Range

• widely distributed throughout the province
• use Fish ON-Line, an interactive mapping tool, to find specific lakes and rivers

Habitat

• tolerate a variety of temperatures and habitats
• prefer areas of open water and moderate vegetation
• share habitat with walleye and bass

Find a fishing spot with Fish ON-Line

Angling Tips

• plentiful near shore after ice-out in late April and May
• summer fishing is best at weed lines and large, flat sandy or silty areas with scattered vegetation near deeper water
• comfortable in bright light – do not see well in dim light
• feed in schools
• begin in mid-morning, feed off and on throughout the day, and break up in the evening
• usually found near the bottom

Common baits

• light slip-sinker rigs
• split-shot and a hook with a worm or small minnow
• small spinners, tube jigs or twister tails
• small minnows, earthworms
• flies, grasshoppers, other insects