Michigan Yellow Perch Record 2026: 3 lb 12 oz
The Michigan state record yellow perch weighed 3 lb 12 oz and measured 21 inches. It was caught in 1947 from Lake Independence in Marquette County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 79 years later.
Where the record came from
Lake Independence is one of the Michigan lakes with water-quality readings on record. Its nutrient and algae samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal are on its lake page, a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
Lake Independence — County, MI. See the full water-quality report →Yellow Perch records by state
Michigan ranks 1 of 11 among the states in our index for record yellow perch. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan (this page) | 3 lb 12 oz | 1947 | Lake Independence |
| 2 | New York | 3 lb 8 oz | 1982 | Lake Erie |
| 3 | Minnesota | 3 lb 4 oz | 1945 | Lake Plantaganette |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 3 lb 4 oz | 1954 | Lake Winnebago |
| 5 | Indiana | 3 lb 2 oz | 2024 | Lake Michigan |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 3 lb | 2021 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | North Dakota | 3 lb | 2026 | Devils Lake |
| 8 | Ohio | 2 lb 14 oz | 2016 | Lake Erie |
| 9 | Iowa | 2 lb 13 oz | 2019 | Private pond |
| 10 | South Dakota | 2 lb 13 oz | 2015 | Bitter Lake |
| 11 | Illinois | 2 lb 8 oz | 1974 | Arrowhead Club Lake |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside Michigan
18 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 3 lb 12 oz yellow perch — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Michigan records have stood longer, the yellow perch mark dating to 1947.
Michigan lakes that hold yellow perch
197 Michigan lakes are documented to hold yellow perch, ranked here on nutrient and algae readings.