BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — According to Idaho Fish and Game, an angler ice fishing on Island Park Reservoir on Jan. 3, 2026, unexpectedly caught a 5-inch-long Yellow Perch, a species not native to the reservoir.
The angler reported the catch to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline, and Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officers confirmed the fish was illegally stocked.
This marks the first confirmed report of a Yellow Perch in the reservoir, which is managed for Rainbow Trout. Transporting live fish in Idaho without permits is illegal, and illegal stocking can lead to severe ecological consequences…