Management

In many lakes, perch occur in such great numbers that they constitute a management problem. Perch-bound lakes are filled with stunted perch and only a few lakes are able to support a population that can reach a healthy size.

Because of their high reproductive potential, if the fry are not eaten by predacious fish like pike or walleye, the species may virtually take over a lake. Although commercial fishing helps keep their numbers down, they still require additional cropping by angling. Many areas are actively encouraging anglers to fish this species all year round. One way this is done in some areas is by putting few restrictions on perch caught by angling. Once anglers have tasted a broiled or pan-fried yellow perch, though, they need little further encouragement to continue the sport.

You can help significantly by avoiding the use of perch as live bait. Even though in many areas it is illegal to transport fish from one body of water to another, anglers still do so, even though this practice causes problems for natural species, as has happened in some Ontario waters where the trout populations have suffered dramatically.

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