Yellow Perch Lakes in British Columbia
Government fish surveys have recorded yellow perch in 29 British Columbia lakes, 1% of the 2,671 lakes in this atlas with sport-fish records.
- Lakes
- 29
- Recorded since 2010
- 16
- Median size
- 1.63 km²
- Latest record
- 2022
Where it is found
Most of these lakes are in Central Okanagan (5), Peace River (4) and Thompson-Nicola (4).
In these lakes the sport fish most often recorded alongside it are rainbow trout (93%), brook trout (45%), pumpkinseed (45%) and cutthroat trout (31%).
Seasons, limits and sanctuaries vary by zone: check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you fish.
Where yellow perch is most consistently recorded
Ranked by the number of observation records, then by the most recent record.
| # | Lake | Records | Last record | Max depth m | Area km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinaus LakeNorth Okanagan | 73 | 2012 | 1.62 | |
| 2 | Shawnigan LakeCowichan Valley | 23 | 2022 | 5.45 | |
| 3 | Okanagan LakeCentral Okanagan | 15 | 2015 | 349 | |
| 4 | Upper Arrow LakeCentral Kootenay | 13 | 2013 | 510 | |
| 5 | Lambly LakeCentral Okanagan | 11 | 2012 | 0.81 | |
| 6 | Ellison LakeCentral Okanagan | 9 | 2011 | 2.01 | |
| 7 | Vaseux LakeOkanagan-Similkameen | 7 | 2015 | 2.83 | |
| 8 | Swan LakeNorth Okanagan | 7 | 2012 | 4.11 | |
| 9 | Kalamalka LakeNorth Okanagan | 6 | 2018 | 25.6 | |
| 10 | Wood LakeCentral Okanagan | 5 | 2011 | 9.1 | |
| 11 | Skimikin LakeColumbia-Shuswap | 3 | 2010 | 0.1 | |
| 12 | Elk LakeCapital | 3 | 2002 | 2.23 | |
| 13 | Burnell LakeOkanagan-Similkameen | 3 | 1986 | 0.14 | |
| 14 | Christina LakeKootenay Boundary | 2 | 2019 | 25.6 | |
| 15 | Bearhole LakePeace River | 2 | 2018 | 1.63 | |
| 16 | Charlie LakePeace River | 2 | 2017 | 18.1 | |
| 17 | Wasa LakeEast Kootenay | 2 | 1990 | 1.05 | |
| 18 | Shannon LakeCentral Okanagan | 2 | 1951 | 0.14 | |
| 19 | Phillips LakeThompson-Nicola | 1 | 2010 | 0.3 | |
| 20 | Miller LakeThompson-Nicola | 1 | 2010 | 0.17 | |
| 21 | Gardom LakeColumbia-Shuswap | 1 | 2009 | 0.77 | |
| 22 | Forest LakeThompson-Nicola | 1 | 2008 | 0.24 | |
| 23 | Skmana LakeThompson-Nicola | 1 | 2007 | 0.12 | |
| 24 | Erie LakeCentral Kootenay | 1 | 2007 | 0.36 | |
| 25 | Jim Smith LakeEast Kootenay | 1 | 2003 | 0.23 | |
| 26 | Blackhawk LakePeace River | 1 | 2001 | 1.92 | |
| 27 | Langford LakeCapital | 1 | 2001 | 0.61 | |
| 28 | Kootenay LakeCentral Kootenay | 1 | 1994 | 422 | |
| 29 | Kelly LakePeace River | 1 | 1984 | 2.03 |
Top 29 of 29 lakes. Download the full list (CSV). Source: British Columbia’s Fisheries Information Summary System observations (OGL-BC). Data as of October 9, 2026. A record means a survey caught or observed the species, not that it is abundant today.
Other fish in British Columbia
- Northern Pike48
- Bass57
- Trout3,531
- Lake Trout240
- Brook Trout244
- Rainbow Trout2,080
- Kokanee438
- Arctic Grayling65
- Atlantic Salmon18
- Bull Trout138
- Burbot203
- Chinook Salmon100
- Chum Salmon51
- Coastal Cutthroat Trout59
- Coho Salmon286
- Cutthroat Trout656
- Dolly Varden488
- Lake Whitefish167
- Largemouth Bass21
- Mountain Whitefish384
- Pink Salmon61
- Pumpkinseed39
- Smallmouth Bass36
- Sockeye Salmon198
- Steelhead169
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout103