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Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch are one of Vermont's most common and popular fish species, ranking as the most preferred species by Vermont ice anglers and eighth most popular in open water.

These schooling fish are easily identified by their golden-yellow flanks with six to eight dark vertical bars and orange lower fins.

Scientific Name: Perca flavescens

Physical Characteristics:
  • Golden-yellow flanks with six to eight dark vertical bars and orange lower fins.
  • In Vermont, yellow perch typically measure 8-12 inches, though some over 20 years old have been observed.
  • The Vermont state record is 2 pounds 6 ounces, caught in Caspian Lake in February 2015, measuring 16 inches with a 12.5-inch girth.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Yellow perch inhabit many of Vermont's lakes, ponds, and rivers, preferring areas around mud and gravel bottoms near vegetation.
  • Larger fish occupy open water while smaller perch congregate closer to shore.

Key Locations

  • Lakes Champlain, Carmi, Morey, Bomoseen, and Memphremagog, Chittenden and Harriman reservoirs, Berlin Pond, and Otter Creek, Caspian Lake, Lowell Lake, Bullhead Pond, Gale Meadows Pond, Sadawga Pond, Echo Lake, and many smaller water bodies throughout Vermont's southern, central, and northern regions.

Specific Spots

  • Around submerged weed beds, shallow and deep rock structure, sunken trees, logs, stumps, shoreline cover, overhanging trees, docks, bridge pilings, and piers.
  • Structure directly adjacent to deep water where perch relate to quick, steep drops.

Yellow Perch FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Live worms and small minnows, small grubs, tubes, flies, and spinners. Small jigs with twister tails. For ice fishing, small jigs tipped with maggots or perch-eyes.

What flies work for Yellow Perch in Vermont?

Mini Clouser minnows in chartreuse/red, yellow/red, black/red, or chartreuse/black, micro leeches in black, olive, and brown with 1/8-inch beads, purple woolly buggers.

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

Yellow perch can be caught year-round in Vermont. They're the top choice for Vermont ice anglers. Anglers should avoid targeting perch during spawning period in April-May.

How do you catch Yellow Perch in Vermont?

Bouncing jigs off the bottom, using float and fly rigs about two feet from a weighted bobber, and fishing small plastics on 1/32-ounce jig heads. Work baits near the bottom as perch feed there consistently.

What do Yellow Perch eat?

Adult yellow perch consume aquatic insect larvae, larger invertebrates, and small fish, while juveniles feed on zooplankton, crustaceans, and midge larvae. They are active bottom and mid-water feeders.

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