Yellow Perch in Indiana
Indiana yellow perch: bag, record, stocking and waters.
- no bag limitbag
- 3 lb. 2 oz.record
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yellow perch from Lake Michigan to the Ohio
Indiana DNR rules group yellow perch under the statewide heading "Yellow Perch". Bag as printed: Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan). Length rule: no size limit.
The Hoosier yellow perch record reads 3 lb. 2 oz., Lake Michigan, 2024. The DNR names it at 47 waters with pages here, starting with Lake Maxinkuckee, Dogwood Lake and Clear Lake (Steuben County). From 2016 forward, stocking rows add up to 7,320 in 6 waters.
Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens), Percidae (perches and darters).
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| Where | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Yellow Perch | Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan) | no size limit |
| Lake Michigan | Yellow Perch | 15 (on Lake Michigan only) | no size limit |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Big-water rules for Indiana yellow perch
| Water | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan | Yellow Perch | 15 (on Lake Michigan only) | no size limit |
Lake Michigan and Ohio River rows as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Heaviest Indiana yellow perch on file
| Weight as printed | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lb. 2 oz. | Lake Michigan | Lake County | 2024 |
Indiana DNR Indiana Record Fish Program list (keeper: Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (Indiana Record Fish Program); angler names left off here), read November 5, 2026.
Places to try for Indiana yellow perch
- Lake Maxinkuckee1,910 acres (NHD outline area), Marshall County
- Dogwood Lake1,235 acres (NHD outline area), Daviess County
- Clear Lake (Steuben County)815 acres (NHD outline area), Steuben County
- Cedar Lake (Lake County)797 acres (NHD outline area), Lake County
- Webster Lake650 acres (NHD outline area), Kosciusko County
- Big Turkey Lake470 acres (NHD outline area), LaGrange County
- Waldron Lake429 acres (NHD outline area), Noble County
- Big Long Lake392 acres (NHD outline area), LaGrange County
- James Lake286 acres (NHD outline area), Kosciusko County
- Blue Lake246 acres (NHD outline area), Whitley County
- Loon Lake (Whitley County)226 acres (NHD outline area), Whitley County
- Crooked Lake (Noble County)205 acres (NHD outline area), Noble County
- Pretty Lake (LaGrange County)185 acres (NHD outline area), LaGrange County
- Fox Lake (Steuben County)146 acres (NHD outline area), Steuben County
- Little Turkey Lake139 acres (NHD outline area), LaGrange County
- Loon Lake (Steuben County)131 acres (NHD outline area), Steuben County
- Bixler Lake129 acres (NHD outline area), Noble County
- Shriner Lake126 acres (NHD outline area), Whitley County
- Nyona Lake113 acres (NHD outline area), Fulton County
- Cook Lake109 acres (NHD outline area), Marshall County
- Fishtrap Lake106 acres (NHD outline area), LaPorte County
- North Chain Lake86 acres (NHD outline area), St. Joseph County
- Riddles Lake78 acres (NHD outline area), St. Joseph County
- Little Barbee Lake77 acres (NHD outline area), Kosciusko County
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
yellow perch stocked by the Indiana DNR since 2016
| Water as listed | Fish since 2016 |
|---|---|
| Big Turkey Lake | 2,900 |
| Riddles Lake | 2,000 |
| North Chain Lake | 1,000 |
| Fishtrap Lake | 800 |
| Bostwick Pond | 600 |
| Sunnyside Park Pond North | 20 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
A Piscifun lineup sized for Indiana yellow perch
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Hardwood shorelines around Yellow Perch through a lens
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Common Indiana questions on yellow perch
How many yellow perch may I keep in a day in Indiana?
The statewide row reads Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan), with size no size limit.
What is the Indiana record yellow perch?
3 lb. 2 oz. out of Lake Michigan, 2024.
Which Hoosier lake or river lists yellow perch?
See Lake Maxinkuckee, Dogwood Lake and Clear Lake (Steuben County), the first of 47 Indiana pages naming it.
Does the guide print special yellow perch rules anywhere?
No special regulation entry names it, though all-fish rules on a water still apply.
How many yellow perch has the DNR stocked?
DNR rows add up to 7,320 in 6 waters from 2016, the last in 2025.
How much is an Indiana license to fish for yellow perch?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Which fish family are Indiana yellow perch in?
Perca flavescens; family Percidae (perches and darters), on the DNR Fishes of Indiana list.
Can I fish for yellow perch on Free Fishing Days?
The Indiana DNR set Free Fishing Days for May 10, June 6-7, and Sept. 26, 2026, for Indiana residents (no license or trout/salmon stamp needed; all other rules apply). Bag and size rules still apply.
Find yellow perch near your Indiana base
Every linked water lists DNR access sites.