Common Names: Lake perch, striped perch

Identification
The yellow perch sides are golden yellow to brassy green with six to eight dark vertical saddles with a white to yellow belly. Yellow perch have many small teeth, but no large canines. The gill cover contains one or more sharp spines.

Food
Young yellow perch eat zooplankton and aquatic insects. As they get larger, yellow perch may eat worms, crustaceans, insects, mollusks and other fish. Yellow perch are sight feeders and usually feed during daylight hours. They actively feed throughout the year, even during winter.

Habitat
The yellow perch is found in lakes, ponds, and slow moving rivers. It prefers clear water with moderate vegetation and lots of sand or gravel bottoms.

Fishing Techniques

Anglers can use many angling methods for yellow perch, including natural baits, such as worms, crickets or maggots. Keep your hook on or near the bottom, suspended under a float. Perch strike lightly so a float may help detect a bite. Small jigs and spinners are also effective.