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Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch in North Dakota are a highly sought-after game fish known for their distinctive yellow to gold coloration with 6-8 dark vertical bars running down their sides. They're part of the Percidae family, closely related to walleye and sauger.

North Dakota's Yellow Perch are found throughout the state with status listed as SNR (status not ranked), indicating their presence but variable population levels across different waters.

Scientific Name: Perca flavescens

Physical Characteristics:
  • Known for their distinctive yellow to gold coloration with 6-8 dark vertical bars running down their sides.
  • They typically live 9-10 years and can reach lengths up to 16 inches, though most average 6-7 inches with 12-inch fish considered trophies in most waters.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These fish inhabit clear, weedy backwaters and pools of creeks, small to large rivers, shallow lake waters, and areas with heavy aquatic vegetation growth.

Key Locations

  • Devils Lake stands out as North Dakota's premier Yellow Perch destination, renowned for producing jumbo perch exceeding 2 pounds - among the largest in North America.
  • Prime North Dakota locations include Devils Lake (the premier destination), Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe, Lake Audubon, Lake Ashtabula, plus numerous smaller lakes and reservoirs throughout the state's fishing districts.

Specific Spots

  • They are commonly found around structure like rock piles, weed beds, docks, and piers.
  • Target depths of 10-20 feet initially, adjusting based on fish location.

Yellow Perch FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Yellow Perch in North Dakota?

Popular lures include small spinners (effective in clear water), 1/32 oz jig heads tipped with soft plastics like glow worms, grubs, or 1-2 inch Berkeley power tubes and Keitech swimbaits.

When is the best time to fish for Yellow Perch in North Dakota?

Active year-round, making them excellent targets for ice fishing during North Dakota's long winters. Spring and fall see perch moving shallow for excellent shore fishing opportunities, while summer requires deeper water tactics like trolling or drifting.

How do you catch Yellow Perch in North Dakota?

Fish near bottom structure using techniques like slow steady retrieves for soft plastics, jerk-jerk-pause for hard baits, or yo-yo retrieves with lipless crankbaits. Vertical jigging excels in deep water, while dropshot rigs work well around sparse vegetation - tie hooks 6-8 inches above vegetation height.

What do Yellow Perch eat?

Yellow Perch are opportunistic feeders with diets changing as they mature - juveniles consume zooplankton and small invertebrates, while adults feed on aquatic insects, small minnows, crayfish, and other small baitfish.

Where do Yellow Perch live in North Dakota?

These fish inhabit clear, weedy backwaters and pools of creeks, small to large rivers, shallow lake waters, and areas with heavy aquatic vegetation growth.

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