Species Spotlight: Yellow Perch

This month’s species spotlight focuses on an iconic Wisconsin (and Midwest) fish species: Yellow Perch. Found in inland lakes such as Lake Winnebago, Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne along with the Great Lakes Michigan and Superior and many other Midwest lakes, the yellow perch is an important fish to these lakes’ ecosystems and to the region’s economy. This is because it is a popular sportfish species. In these lakes, yellow perch eat a variety of food including minnows, plankton, worms and insect larvae like the dragonfly larvae highlighted in last month’s newsletter. In turn, yellow perch are eaten by nearly all predatory fishes that live in the same waters and by many species of waterfowl.

Lake Michigan Yellow Perch, Source: WDNR

Illustration: Virgil Beck, Source: WDNR

In early spring, keep an eye out for yellow perch spawning, which typically occurs near aquatic plants. These plants are used for cover for the eggs and young. When grown, perch can be found in schools with other small fishes in the open waters of lakes that have some aquatic plants and clear water. Adult yellow perch average 7 – 12 inches long. Though their size may seem small compared to other sportfish, the yellow perch is still a popular fish due to its flavor. Many iconic Wisconsin fish fry’s feature yellow perch! You can read about how yellow perch and other species’ populations are assessed in Lake Winnebago by the DNR here: https://oshkoshherald.com/2022/10/11/october-12-2022-oshkosh-herald/