When is yellow perch season in North Dakota?

North Dakota keeps yellow perch open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the North Dakota bag limit for yellow perch?

The North Dakota daily bag limit for yellow perch is 20 / day per angler statewide (one of the most generous perch bags in the country). The possession limit is 40 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size yellow perch can you keep in North Dakota?

The North Dakota size rule for yellow perch is No statewide minimum. Trophy rule: Devils Lake + Stump Lake country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery — perch routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbo perch reported annually; ND state-record yellow perch 2 lb 15 oz Lake Sakakawea 1982; Devils Lake closed-basin terminal-lake nutrient-rich aquatic invertebrate forage base supports dense perch biomass + rapid growth rates.

Do you need a license to fish for yellow perch in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for yellow perch, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a North Dakota license — compare resident and non-resident North Dakota fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for yellow perch in North Dakota?

Yes. In North Dakota, yellow perch fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; ice-fishing tip-ups + jiggers permitted during December – March season; Live minnow + waxworm + mealworm bait permitted; Permanent ice-house permitted on listed waters during winter season (ND classic Northern Plains winter tradition); ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual); Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for any reservoir-specific exceptions.

Do specific North Dakota waters have different yellow perch rules?

Yes. 6 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide yellow perch regulation, including Devils Lake, Stump Lake, Lake Sakakawea, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

North Dakota Yellow perch 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Perca flavescens

Last updated June 8, 2026

North Dakota yellow perch fishery is among the densest in the country — Devils Lake (200,000+ acres natural prairie lake) is the country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery, producing perch routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbo perch reported annually. Devils Lake is a closed-basin terminal lake (no outflow to a river system) with extremely productive aquatic invertebrate forage base — the lake's high alkalinity + the post-1990s-wet-cycle nutrient-rich water supports dense perch biomass + rapid growth rates. Stump Lake (10,000 acres connected to Devils Lake via the Tolna Coulee) carries the same trophy perch fishery. Lake Sakakawea + Lake Audubon + Lake Oahe upper end + Lake Ashtabula + Lake Darling + Jamestown Reservoir + dozens of smaller eastern ND prairie pothole lakes + USACE reservoirs carry secondary perch populations. The statewide standard rule is 20 fish per angler per day with no statewide minimum — one of the most generous perch bags in the country (reflecting ND G&F's high-volume perch management approach). Open year-round statewide. The winter ice-fishing season December – March is the densest fishing window — perch concentrate in 15-30 ft basin schools during the ice season, and ND ice-fishing for perch via permanent ice-house + jigging is a classic Northern Plains winter target that draws anglers from across the Upper Midwest. ND state-record yellow perch 2 lb 15 oz (Lake Sakakawea, 1982).

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; winter ice-fishing season December – March is the densest fishing window (ND classic ice-fishing target).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 20 / day per angler statewide (one of the most generous perch bags in the country)
Possession: 40 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum
Trophy rule: Devils Lake + Stump Lake country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery — perch routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbo perch reported annually; ND state-record yellow perch 2 lb 15 oz Lake Sakakawea 1982; Devils Lake closed-basin terminal-lake nutrient-rich aquatic invertebrate forage base supports dense perch biomass + rapid growth rates

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; ice-fishing tip-ups + jiggers permitted during December – March season
Live minnow + waxworm + mealworm bait permitted
Permanent ice-house permitted on listed waters during winter season (ND classic Northern Plains winter tradition)
ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual)
Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for any reservoir-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific North Dakota waters:

Devils Lake
No minimum, 20 / day; country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery — routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbos
Stump Lake
No minimum, 20 / day; trophy perch alongside Devils Lake
Lake Sakakawea
No minimum, 20 / day; ND state-record yellow perch 2 lb 15 oz Sakakawea 1982
Lake Audubon
No minimum, 20 / day
Lake Ashtabula
No minimum, 20 / day
Kraft Slough
No minimum, reduced to 10 / day, 20 possession — the only ND water with a perch bag below the 20 / day statewide limit

Official source

North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F) publishes the authoritative 2026 North Dakotafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official North Dakota fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Yellow perch closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to North Dakota Game & Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any North Dakota trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is yellow perch season in North Dakota?: North Dakota keeps yellow perch open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the North Dakota bag limit for yellow perch?: The North Dakota daily bag limit for yellow perch is 20 / day per angler statewide (one of the most generous perch bags in the country). The possession limit is 40 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size yellow perch can you keep in North Dakota?: The North Dakota size rule for yellow perch is No statewide minimum. Trophy rule: Devils Lake + Stump Lake country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery — perch routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbo perch reported annually; ND state-record yellow perch 2 lb 15 oz Lake Sakakawea 1982; Devils Lake closed-basin terminal-lake nutrient-rich aquatic invertebrate forage base supports dense perch biomass + rapid growth rates.
Do you need a license to fish for yellow perch in North Dakota?: Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for yellow perch, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a North Dakota license — compare resident and non-resident North Dakota fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for yellow perch in North Dakota?: Yes. In North Dakota, yellow perch fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; ice-fishing tip-ups + jiggers permitted during December – March season; Live minnow + waxworm + mealworm bait permitted; Permanent ice-house permitted on listed waters during winter season (ND classic Northern Plains winter tradition); ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual); Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for any reservoir-specific exceptions.
Do specific North Dakota waters have different yellow perch rules?: Yes. 6 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide yellow perch regulation, including Devils Lake, Stump Lake, Lake Sakakawea, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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