Best yellow perch lakes in Massachusetts
246 Massachusetts waters list yellow perch (official records or labelled estimates), 245 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The premier eating panfish. Roams soft-bottom flats and weed edges in schools — a daytime biter.
- Wachusett Reservoir — 110 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Lake Quinsigamond — 85 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Colebrook River Reservoir — 130 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sudbury Reservoir — 55 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Otis Reservoir — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Congamond Lakes — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Quaboag Pond — 15 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Long Pond (Lakeville) — 12 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Chain PickerelWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hamilton Reservoir — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Congamond Lakes South Pond — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Mashpee Pond — 90 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Cochituate North Basin — 65 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Watershops Pond — 15 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Long Pond (Plymouth) — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Pontoosuc Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- South Watuppa Pond — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Whitehall Reservoir — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Congomond Lakes (Middle basin ) — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Chain PickerelWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Littleville Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- White Island Pond W.B. — 15 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chain PickerelWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Webster Lake — 45 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
- Singletary Pond — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lake Boon — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Wallum Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Agawam Mill Pond — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
…plus 221 more Massachusetts waters holding yellow perch.
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Massachusetts waters with public access data
When to fish yellow perch in Massachusetts
- Spring 3–12 ft — Spawning runs to shallow weeds and gravel — find the school, stay on it.
- Summer 10–30 ft — Schools slide deeper to soft-bottom flats and deep weedlines.
- Fall 12–35 ft — Jumbo perch pod up on deep basin flats feeding on invertebrates.
- Winter 15–35 ft — A premier ice-fishing target — deep mud flats, small jigs.
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