Alter and simplify the daily bag and minimum length limits for trout in the Henrys Fork from McCrea Bridge upstream to the Henrys Lake Outlet by removing the “only 2 may be cutthroat trout, none under 16 inches restriction, but maintain the same seasons and overall daily bag limit of 6.
Rationale
The 16-inch minimum length and bag limit (only 2 cutthroat trout per day) restrictions was adopted to protect juvenile cutthroat trout. However, this section of the Henrys Fork Snake River is managed as a general fishery that includes a put-and-take rainbow trout stocking program, has very few cutthroat trout, and provides little benefit to statewide cutthroat trout conservation.
Recent surveys have indicated that cutthroat trout in this reach mostly exceed 16 inches; therefore, the current regulation does not align with the management direction for this river reach. Removal of these restrictions would make fishing regulations easier to understand by reducing exceptions. 
Options
Which option do you prefer for the Henrys Fork Snake River from McCrea Bridge to the Henrys Lake Outlet?
Option A: Simplify the existing regulations:
December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 – trout limit is 6
Option B: Keep the existing regulation in place:
December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 – trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 16 inches
Review the proposal below and submit by June 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. MDT.
After reviewing feedback and considering agency goals, season recommendations will be presented to the Commission for their consideration at the July 2024 meeting.
Proposal
Alter and simplify the daily bag and minimum length limits for trout in the Henrys Fork from McCrea Bridge upstream to the Henrys Lake Outlet by removing the “only 2 may be cutthroat trout, none under 16 inches restriction, but maintain the same seasons and overall daily bag limit of 6.
Rationale
The 16-inch minimum length and bag limit (only 2 cutthroat trout per day) restrictions was adopted to protect juvenile cutthroat trout. However, this section of the Henrys Fork Snake River is managed as a general fishery that includes a put-and-take rainbow trout stocking program, has very few cutthroat trout, and provides little benefit to statewide cutthroat trout conservation.
Recent surveys have indicated that cutthroat trout in this reach mostly exceed 16 inches; therefore, the current regulation does not align with the management direction for this river reach. Removal of these restrictions would make fishing regulations easier to understand by reducing exceptions. 
Options
Which option do you prefer for the Henrys Fork Snake River from McCrea Bridge to the Henrys Lake Outlet?
Option A: Simplify the existing regulations:
Option B: Keep the existing regulation in place:
Review the proposal below and submit by June 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. MDT.
After reviewing feedback and considering agency goals, season recommendations will be presented to the Commission for their consideration at the July 2024 meeting.