Scientific Name: Perca flavescens
Common Name: Yellow Perch
Nick Names: Tiger Perch, Ring Perch, Slough Tiger
Description
Yellow perch have a shorter, more bulky build especially when conditions are right. They are known for their dark, vertical, tiger-like stripes and their bright orange pelvic fins. These panfish have a very aggressive nature which is why they are targeted by many anglers.
Similar Species
Walleye (Sander vitreus) is the cousin of the perch as they are in the same family (Percidae). The sauger (Sauger canadensis) is a cousin to the walleye making it closely related to the yellow perch. Both these species look different in color, but have a similar body style-just generally longer.
Distribution and Habitat
Perch are a cool water fish. Their range goes from northern Canada all the way almost to northern Texas, but the majority of its range is in the northern part of North America. Perch are known as roamers who do not relate to structure as much as food availability. Perch tend to spend most of their time in mud flats and big basins chasing invertebrates, smaller fish and minnows.
Age and Growth
Age and growth depend mostly on what part of their distribution they are in, and the quality of food in the system they inhabit. Fish that are farther north in the distribution tend to have slower growth, but live longer. Fish farther south tend to have longer growth periods, but live shorter then fish in their northern distribution. Food quality also plays a big factor in quality of fish. The Dakotas are known for their jumbo yellow perch. This is because most these lakes tend to have freshwater shrimp, blood worms, and a good amount of smaller fish and minnows in the system. Freshwater shrimp are abundant in the nutrients needed to promote quick growth.
Reproduction
Perch spawn at a temperature window of 45 to 52 degrees. Normally spawning of perch happens at night. They lay their eggs in shallow submerged vegetation. It also helps if there is so rocks around, but that isn’t as important as the submerged vegetation. As a general rule in the heart of perch country in the Midwest males tend to reach sexual maturity in 2 to 3 years and females tend to be 3 to 4 years. Farther south in their distribution they reach maturity a little quicker and up north it would take a little longer. Photoperiod, how long the days are, is also a big influence in fishing spawn.
Feeding
Perch diets depend mostly on their age and body size. Perch are piscivorous at older ages when they chase mostly minnow species around. When they are younger they feed on zooplankton and smaller invertebrates like freshwater shrimp, blood worms, fish eggs, and other small invertebrates.
