Yellow Perch Native
🔬 Perca flavescens
Michigan's most popular panfish and excellent table fare. Found in virtually every Michigan lake. Schools move constantly: find them and the action is fast.
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Bite this month
Excellent
Best season
Summer, Winter
Keeper size
8" at ~3 yrs
Ice fishing
Viable target
Regulations
limit 50
Where to Catch Yellow Perch in Michigan
| Lake | County | Population |
|---|---|---|
|
Houghton Lake
20,044 acres
|
Roscommon | |
|
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
|
Gogebic | |
|
Lake St. Clair
260,000 acres
|
Macomb | |
| Alberta Pond | Baraga | |
| Alcona Pond | Alcona | |
| Algonquin Lake | ||
| Ambrose Lake | Ogemaw | |
|
Arbutus Lake
510 acres
|
Grand Traverse | |
| Arcadia Lake | Manistee | |
| Archer Lake | ||
| Arnold Lake | Clare | |
| Au Sable Lake | Ogemaw | |
| Au Sable River | Iosco | |
| Au Sable River | Crawford | |
| Au Sable River | Oscoda | |
| AuGres | Arenac | |
| Austin Lake | Kalamazoo | |
| AuTrain Lake | Alger | |
| Avalon Lake | Montmorency | |
| Badger Lake |
Yellow Perch Conservation Status
Native Yellow Perch is native to Michigan waters. Most popular panfish in Michigan. Found in nearly every lake and river statewide. The daily bag limit is 50.
Yellow Perch Habitat & Behavior
Open water and weed edges throughout Michigan. Schooling fish: depth varies by season from shallow spring through deep summer. DNR records show Yellow Perch present in 626 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Clare, Antrim and Iron counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec. Yellow Perch is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.
Best Yellow Perch Techniques
Small jigs tipped with minnow or waxworm, small spinners, ice fishing with teardrops and waxworms
Best Yellow Perch Baits
Minnows, wax worms, small jigs, emerald shiners, ice flies
Yellow Perch Fishing Regulations in Michigan
50
Daily limit
100
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
One of Michigan's most popular ice fishing targets. Great Lakes perch populations can vary significantly by year.
⚠️ Regulations shown are general statewide guidelines for 2025. Rules vary by water body and change annually.
Always verify current regulations in the official Michigan DNR Fishing Guide before you fish.
Michigan DNR Yellow Perch Stocking Records
Yellow Perch Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Monterey Lake | 1,000 | 6" | |
| May 29, 2026 | Clifford Lake Montcalm County | Montcalm | 200 | 6" |
| May 29, 2026 | Ford Lake Washtenaw County | Washtenaw | 200 | 6" |
| May 21, 2026 | Matteson Lake Branch County | Branch | 1,000 | 6" |
| May 3, 2026 | Hemlock Lake Cass County | Cass | 500 | 5" |
| May 3, 2026 | Long Lake Grand Traverse County | Grand Traverse | 500 | 5" |
| May 3, 2026 | Hemlock Lake Hillsdale County | Hillsdale | 500 | 5" |
| May 3, 2026 | Long Lake Alpena County | Alpena | 1,000 total | 5" |
| May 3, 2026 | stocking event | 500 | 5" | |
| Apr 11, 2025 | stocking event | 500 | 5" | |
| May 3, 2026 | Carpenter Lake | 500 | 5" | |
| Nov 25, 2025 | Dewey Lake | 1,500 | 6" | |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Lake Le Ann | 1,450 | 6" | |
| Nov 6, 2025 | Lake of the Woods Antrim County | Antrim | 500 | 7" |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Big Clinton Lake | 250 | 6" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Searles Lake | 300 total | 6"–7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 200 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 6" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Little Clinton Lake | 350 total | 6"–7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 250 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 6" | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | Clinton Trails Lake | 200 total | 6"–7" | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | stocking event | 100 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 6" | |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Yellow Lake | 2,000 | 6" | |
| May 23, 2025 | Doster, Lake | 780 | 6.5" | |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Archer Lake | 500 | 5" | |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Lake Bel Air | 400 | 6" | |
| Nov 21, 2024 | Lake St. Helen Roscommon County | Roscommon | 1,310 | 6" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Yellow Perch, across 21 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Yellow Perch DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 3,518,618
Stocking events: 536
Peak year: 1985 (864,570)
536
Historical stocking events
197
Lakes stocked
May
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Oct
Nov
Top Stocked Lakes
Long Lake
Alpena Co.
Lake Michigan
Allegan Co.
Lake Michigan
Antrim Co.
Long Lake
Grand Traverse Co.
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Estimated Mature Yellow Perch, November
Based on DNR stocking records from 2022–2024 (2–4 years ago), these 15 lakes likely hold mature Yellow Perch at or near 8" keeper size today.
1
Long Lake
~850
est. mature
→
2
Long Lake
~750
est. mature
→
3
Yellow Lake
~500
est. mature
→
4
Bills Lake
~475
est. mature
→
5
Lake Ogemaw
~475
est. mature
→
6
Lake St. Helen
~325
est. mature
→
7
Baldwins Lake
~250
est. mature
→
8
Eagle Lake
~250
est. mature
→
9
Tourist Park
~250
est. mature
→
10
Lake Le Ann
~225
est. mature
→
11
Marble (Bennett) Lake
~225
est. mature
→
12
Turk Lake
~200
est. mature
→
13
Arnold Lake
~175
est. mature
→
14
Big Blue Lake
~175
est. mature
→
15
Huyck Lake
~150
est. mature
→
Estimates based on average stocking-size survival rates. Actual populations vary by habitat, fishing pressure, and lake conditions. Data sourced from Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Yellow Perch
❄️ Yellow Perch is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.
Angler Tips for Yellow Perch
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