Illegally introduced yellow perch caught in Island Park Reservoir

An angler ice fishing for trout on Island Park Reservoir on Jan. 3, unexpectedly hooked into a 5-inch-long yellow perch — a species that does not belong in the reservoir. The angler retained the fish and immediately reported the catch to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. 

Fish and Game conservation officers met the angler on the ice and confirmed that it was indeed a yellow perch. With no connecting yellow perch fisheries in the area, it was determined that the fish was illegally stocked and is the first-ever confirmed report of a yellow perch in Island Park Reservoir. Island Park Reservoir is managed as a hatchery supported rainbow trout fishery.