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Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Yellow Perch
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

A beloved panfish found across the northern United States and Great Lakes region, yellow perch are famous for their sweet, flaky fillets and willingness to bite year-round. They thrive in natural lakes, reservoirs, and large river systems, making them one of the most accessible species for anglers of all skill levels.

Seasonal Activity

Jan
Prime
Feb
Prime
Mar
Good
Apr
Good
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Good
Aug
Good
Sep
Good
Oct
Prime
Nov
Good
Dec
Prime

Best Techniques

Top Baits

Fishing Regulations

Season dates and limits for Yellow Perch, by state. This list may not cover every state yet — always confirm current rules with your state's wildlife agency before you fish.

Colorado 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 20/day

No minimum size. Liberal limits. Found in many Front Range and mountain reservoirs.

Effective 2025 · Source: cpw.state.co.us

Connecticut 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 30/day, 60 possession

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch.

Effective 2025 · Source: portal.ct.gov

Idaho 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

No minimum size. Liberal limits. Popular panfish in many Idaho lakes.

Effective 2025 · Source: idfg.idaho.gov

Illinois 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 15/day, 30 possession

Open year-round. No minimum size. Found primarily in northeastern Illinois lakes and Lake Michigan. Popular ice fishing target.

Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.illinois.gov

Indiana 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

Open year-round. No minimum size. Popular in northern Indiana natural lakes. Lake Michigan has separate perch regulations.

Effective 2025 · Source: in.gov

Iowa 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

No minimum size. Daily bag limit of 25.

Effective 2025 · Source: iowadnr.gov

Maine 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch. Popular for ice fishing.

Effective 2025 · Source: maine.gov

Maryland 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 10/day, 20 possession

Popular in tidal and non-tidal waters. Chesapeake Bay tributaries are productive yellow perch fisheries.

Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.maryland.gov

Massachusetts 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch.

Effective 2025 · Source: mass.gov

Michigan 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day

No minimum size. Daily limit 25 on most inland waters and Great Lakes. Some waters have reduced limits.

Effective 2026 · Source: michigan.gov

Minnesota 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 20/day

Open year-round on most waters. No minimum size. Highly popular ice fishing target. Some individual lakes have reduced bag limits.

Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.state.mn.us

Montana 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day, 100 possession

Very liberal limits. Popular panfish in eastern Montana reservoirs.

Effective 2025 · Source: fwp.mt.gov

Nebraska 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 15/day, 30 possession

15 per day. Popular species in Sandhills lakes.

Effective 2025 · Source: outdoornebraska.gov

New Hampshire 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch. Popular for ice fishing.

Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.nh.gov

New Jersey 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch.

Effective 2025 · Source: nj.gov

New York 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day, 100 possession

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch statewide. Some individual waters have special limits.

Effective 2025 · Source: dec.ny.gov

North Dakota 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 20/day, 40 possession

20 per day, 40 in possession. Some waters have reduced limits. Very popular species in North Dakota.

Effective 2025 · Source: gf.nd.gov

Ohio 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 30/day

Open year-round. No minimum size. Lake Erie yellow perch are world-famous. Inland waters have 30-fish limit. Lake Erie limit is 30 per day.

Effective 2025 · Source: ohiodnr.gov

Pennsylvania 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day

Open year-round. No minimum size. Daily limit of 50 on most inland waters. Lake Erie perch have separate regulations with reduced limits. Popular ice fishing target.

Effective 2025 · Source: fishandboat.com

South Dakota 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 15/day, 30 possession

No minimum size, 15 fish daily limit. Popular ice fishing target in eastern South Dakota glacial lakes.

Effective 2025 · Source: gfp.sd.gov

Utah 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day

Very liberal limits. No minimum size. Popular at Hyrum, Mantua, and Fish Lake.

Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.utah.gov

Vermont 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 50/day

No closed season or minimum size for yellow perch. Popular for ice fishing on Vermont lakes.

Effective 2025 · Source: vtfishandwildlife.com

Washington 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

Liberal limits. No size limit. Popular panfish in eastern Washington lakes.

Effective 2025 · Source: wdfw.wa.gov

Wisconsin 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

Open year-round on most inland waters. No minimum size on most waters. Daily bag limit of 25 is the general statewide default; some waters have reduced limits of 10 or 15.

Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov

Wyoming 1 zone
Statewide
Season: Open all year
Limit: 25/day, 50 possession

Liberal limits. Popular panfish. No minimum size.

Effective 2025 · Source: wgfd.wyo.gov

State Records

Official rod & reel records by state. Log your catch to see how you compare.

State Weight Length Angler Year Water
MI 3.75 lb 21 in 1947 Lake Independence
NY 3.5 lb George Boice 1982 Lake Erie
WI 3.25 lb 1954 Lake Winnebago
MN 3.25 lb Lake Plantagenet
IN 3.13 lb Blas Lara 2024 Lake Michigan
PA 3 lb Kirk Rudzinski 2021 Lake Erie
OH 2.86 lb 2016
WA 2.75 lb Larry Benthien 1969 Snelson's Slough
MO 2.44 lb Sharon Christopher 2021 Bull Shoals Lake
TN 2.31 lb Jeremy Gary Lorenz 2019 Ocoee #3 Lake

Caught a Yellow Perch?

Log your catch and see how it stacks up against state records.

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