Ontario Species Guide
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens · also called: Perch, Jumbo perch, Ringy
The most family-friendly fish in Ontario. Perch are abundant, willing, easy to catch, and one of the best-tasting fish in the province. They're also the number-one target of Ontario ice anglers.
Identification
Golden-yellow body with 6–8 dark vertical bars, orange lower fins, two separate dorsal fins (front one spiny), no teeth.
Habitat & where to find them
Weed edges and sand/gravel flats in 8–30 ft. Move deep and school heavily in winter — the ice-fishing staple.
Best baits & lures
Baits
- Minnows
- Worms
- Perch eyes (where legal to use fish parts)
Lures
- Small jig + minnow head
- Tiny tungsten ice jig + spike
- Small spinner
- Jigging Rap size 2
Pro tactics
- Find the school and stay on it — perch travel in packs of 20–100.
- Lake Simcoe jumbos: 30–50 ft, small minnow on a #4 hook + split shot, straight down.
- Perch bite hardest just after ice-in and just before ice-out.
Watch Yellow Perch fishing videos
Hand-picked YouTube searches for Yellow Perch in Ontario — how-to walkthroughs, gear breakdowns, and on-water footage.
Opens a live YouTube search in a new tab — results reflect the latest uploads.
Regulations
50 fish in most FMZs / 25 conservation.
Always confirm before your trip: Ontario Fishing Rules & Licences.
Frequently asked questions
How many perch can I keep in Ontario?
Most FMZs allow 50 perch with a Sport licence or 25 with a Conservation licence. Confirm your specific zone.
Top Ontario waters for Yellow Perch
Mapped waters in our guide that hold yellow perch — tap through for FMZ, regulations, and tactics.
- Andrew Haydon Park – Ottawa RiverFMZ 12
- Bay of Quinte – BellevilleFMZ 20
- Bay of Quinte – TrentonFMZ 20
- Belle River – Lake St. ClairFMZ 19
- Bluffer's Park – ScarboroughFMZ 20
- Britannia Bay – Ottawa RiverFMZ 12
- Buckhorn Lake – County Rd 23 LaunchFMZ 17
- Chemong Lake – Selwyn Beach Conservation AreaFMZ 17
- Colonel Samuel Smith Park – EtobicokeFMZ 20
- Constance Bay – Ottawa RiverFMZ 12