No one disputes the importance of yellow perch in Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Commercially, yellow perch fillets will sell for prices greater than lobster illustrating their popularity as table fare. One of the reasons they are so popular is because so many anglers can catch them. Shore fishermen have a realistic chance to catch perch compared to many other Great Lakes fishes that require a large investment in boats and downriggers. Also, perch fishing is a family affair.
Many kids get their first exposure to fishing with yellow perch.
This makes the species important as a recruitment avenue for future anglers. History of Yellow Perch in Lake Huron Yellow perch are a native species in the lake, meaning they were here all along and not an introduced species like so many others found in the lake. They were among the first species to be commercially fished in Saginaw Bay dating back to 1890. Yellow perch could be found in a variety of locations but none as great as Saginaw Bay. This area along with the St. Marys River has a reputation for good perch fishing.