HI Ty. There is a wealth of yellow perch growth information available. Here are a couple of examples.
Based on 58 samples, yellow perch in SD average 86 mm at age 1, 145 mm at age 2, 190 mm at age 3, 220 mm at age 4, and 242 mm at age 5. This is the average, so is mid-way between the "stunted" populations and the low density, fast-growing populations. I looked through all of those 58 population samples included in the statewide average to show you the range. For example, the fastest-growing population averaged 280 mm at age 4, while the slowest-growing population averaged 125 mm. There is a huge difference between an 11 inch perch at age 4 vs. a 5 inch perch at age 4.
Carlander (handbook of freshwater fishery biology, volume 3, 1997) reported mean lengths at ages 1-5 of 71, 115, 158, 187, amd 209 mm. This was an average for a big number of populations from MI, MN, and WI, and so might apply directly to you.
