Yellow perch in Wisconsin
Where yellow perch swim in Wisconsin, and the rules.
- 25 in total; no minilimit
- 3 lbs. 4 oz.record
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Wisconsin yellow perch in brief
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is a member of the Perches (Percidae), classed by the WDNR as game fish. Anglers on general inland waters follow 25 in total; no minimum length, with the season set at Open all year.
Top of the hook and line list: 3 lbs. 4 oz. out of Lake Winnebago in 1954. Between 2023 and 2025 the WDNR stocked 266,847 of them across 204 records.
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“Spawning normally occurs shortly after ice-out in April or early May at water temperatures of 45 – 52º F. Yellow perch spawning closely follows that of walleyes and often coincides with that of suckers. Yellow perch are random spawners, and do not construct nests, nor do they guard their eggs and their young.”
“Yellow perch are primarily bottom feeders with a slow deliberate bite. They eat almost anything but prefer minnows, insect larvae, plankton, and worms. Tackle may range from a simple handline or a fly rod in summer to a short, whippy, jigging rod in winter. Because perch prefer cooler water, the best fishing is usually in deep water. Perch move about in schools, often numbering in the hundreds. If one spot is unproductive after a few tries, it is best to move to other spots until a school is located.”
“The yellow perch occurs in all three drainage basins in Wisconsin (Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, and Lake Superior), in all of the state's boundary waters, and in Lakes Michigan and Superior. Because the yellow perch is a glacial lakes species, it is widely distributed except in the unglaciated region of southwestern Wisconsin.”
Quoted from the WDNR fish page, checked October 2026.
Every Wisconsin limit row for yellow perch
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General inland waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan | 25 in total but only 5 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch is closed May 1, 2026 – June 15, 2026 |
| Major Green Bay tributaries | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| All other tributaries to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| Lake Michigan and Green Bay | 25 in total; includes yellow perch limit; no minimum length | Open all year for bluegill, sunfish and crappie |
| Green Bay and the Fox River | 15; no minimum length | Open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| Lake Michigan | 5; no minimum length | Closed May 1, 2026 – June 15, 2026 |
| Lake Superior | 25; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Winnebago System waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
yellow perch on the state record list
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 3 lbs. 4 oz. | Lake Winnebago | Winnebago | 1954 |
| live release | 16.75 in | Green Bay | Oconto | 2025 |
| alternate method | 1 lb. 9 oz. | Lake Michigan | Manitowoc | 2024 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Recent yellow perch stockings in Wisconsin
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025.
Wisconsin pages that name yellow perch
Wisconsin lakes for yellow perch
- Lake Winnebago131,939 acres
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Guides who list yellow perch
- Doc's Guide Servicefishing guide, Flambeau, Mercer, (715) 476-2305
Water close to Yellow perch in photographs
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Short answers on Wisconsin yellow perch
What is the Wisconsin bag limit for yellow perch?
25 in total; no minimum length on general inland waters; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
Which water holds the yellow perch record?
3 lbs. 4 oz. from Lake Winnebago in 1954 (hook and line).
Which Wisconsin water is a good bet for yellow perch?
1 water here, starting with Lake Winnebago.
Where were yellow perch stocked?
Yes; 266,847 fish in 204 rows from 2023 to 2025, the most in Arbutus Lake*.
What else is yellow perch called?
Perca flavescens, Perches (Percidae); game fish.
When is yellow perch season open in Wisconsin?
Open all year on general inland waters.
Do I need a stamp for yellow perch?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Which guides target yellow perch?
1 guide list it, among them Doc's Guide Service.
Target yellow perch on Wisconsin water
Every listed water has its own Wisconsin page.