Yellow Perch
Yellow perch are small freshwater fish found throughout North America. These brightly colored perch have a long body and slightly forked tail. The commonly reach 12 inches in length with trophy fish being up to 14 inches.
The upper body is greenish to brown, shading to lighter green or yellow on the sides. The underside is white or light colored. Yellow perch are recognizable by their pattern of six to nine vertical stripes that narrow as they approach the belly. The pectoral, pelvic and anal fins are pale-yellow, becoming bright-orange on breeding-season males.
Yellow perch are common in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and brackish creeks. They are be caught year round in most areas. These fish are frequently caught in early spring as they school up to spawn. They are also favorites of ice fishermen who catch them using small natural baits, jigs or other lures.
Other names for the species include American perch, ringed perch, lake perch, green perch or simply “perch”.
