Commission to consider proposed fish seasons and rules changes

Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Thursday, November 19, will adopt a three-year fishing seasons and rules brochure for 2016 through 2018. Fishing rule changes for the next three years will be based on new biological information collected by fisheries biologists, and public input provided from angler opinion surveys and public meetings where input was collected on 41 proposed regional and statewide changes. Some of the proposed changes the Commissioners will consider include: Statewide: - The "possession limit" will be three times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season. Currently, the possession limit is equal to the bag limit. Panhandle Region: - Lake Pend Oreille - The Rainbow Trout daily bag limit will be reduced from 6 to 2; only 1 over 20 inches. Clearwater Region: - Mann Lake, Deyo Reservoir and Spring Valley Reservoir, - Daily bag limit on bass will change from general (6) to 2 bass; none under 16 inches. - Clearwater River, North Fork - Steelhead season; eliminate the July 1 catch-and-release season and open a harvest season for Steelhead from September 1 through December 31. Southwest Region: - Payette Lake - Eliminate the Lake Trout daily bag limit. Include Lake Trout in the daily trout bag limit which is 6. - Payette River, North Fork - Insert a catch-and-release season for trout from Smiley Bridge to Payette Lake beginning on December 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. - Boise River - Eliminate the 14 inch minimum harvest restriction on Rainbow Trout from Loggers Creek to East Boise River footbridge. Change the daily trout bag limit from Barber Dam to Glenwood Bridge to 2 trout. Magic Valley: - Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir - Daily Walleye bag limit will change from 6 fish any size to 6 Walleye with only 1 over 20 inches. Southeast Region: - Region-wide - Minimum size of bass that can be harvested under general rules increases from 12 inches to 14 inches. Upper Snake Region: - Regionwide - Increase the daily bag limit on Kokanee from 6 to 15. - South Fork Snake River tributaries - Allow harvest of any size Brown Trout (which will be included in the daily trout bag limit). Change the "closed to fishing" season to June 1 to June 30 (previous April 1 - June 30). - Jim Moore Pond, Horseshoe Lake and Teardrop Lake - Current rule is 6 trout. The daily trout bag limit would be reduced to 2 trout on all three waters. Salmon Region: - Wallace Lake - Reduce the daily bag limit for trout from 6 to 2. For a complete list of proposed changes, see http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/commission/2015/11_November/A… These proposed changes, if approved, will take effect January 1, 2016. Anglers should consult the new 2016-2018 seasons and rules brochure, which will be available at all license vendors, Fish and Game offices and website before January.