Midgefly larvae and both the immature and adult stages of mayflies often comprise a large part of their diet. A recent study reported Yellow Perch showed a positive growth response in the presence of zebra mussels. Zebra mussels increase the biomass of benthic invertebrates which juvenile and adult yellow perch feed on, therefore improve the growth of the fish. Young eat zooplankton, other aquatic invertebrates, and insects. As they become adults, they consume less zooplankton, and more things such as insects, snails, crayfish and fish eggs.
Yellow perch are also piscivorous preferring shiners and minnows.
They also eat smelt, trout-perch, and even juvenile yellow perch. In turn, Yellow Perch is, in the ecology of many rivers and lakes, of inestimable value as the prey of larger fish. A mainstay of the lower Great Lakes commercial fishery, particularly on Lake Erie, but never figuring highly in Lake Superior's commercial catch. Random spawners, they do not build nests. Instead, the female deposits a long, flat, ribbon-like, amber colored mass of eggs.