During their meeting on Nov. 16, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons and Rules proposals presented by Fish and Game fisheries staff. Fishing seasons and bag limits are established on a three-year cycle, which last started in 2019 and is expiring this December.
During spring 2021, Fish and Game conducted an extensive public outreach campaign with virtual open houses and web surveys to collect ideas for potential changes to existing fishing seasons. During summer, regional fisheries managers proposed changes for fisheries across the state, and under the Commission’s direction, gathered public input on those proposals.
After reviewing the extensive public input, the Commission adopted the upcoming 2022-2024 fishing seasons and bag limits. Anglers will see about 23 changes to seasons and bag limit throughout the state. These changes will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2022.
Steelhead rules have also been modified for spring 2022 seasons, which will not be reflected in the 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons & Rules printed booklet, but the changes will be reflected online.
The 2022-2024 Seasons and Rules brochure will be available online (digitally) and in printed booklets at Fish and Game regional offices and license sales vendors near the end of January 2022.
Here’s an overview of what anglers will see beginning on Jan. 1, 2022.
Panhandle
- Pend Oreille River Boundary
Boundary changed for the Pend Oreille River boundaries to include: from Highway 95 bridge at Sandpoint downstream to Idaho-Washington border, including tributaries and sloughs to the edge of flat water - Lake Pend Oreille Creek Mouths
The 100-yard fishing closure removed at the mouths of Gold, North Gold, Granite and Trestle Creeks on Lake Pend Oreille
Clearwater
- Tolo Lake
The “electric motors only” restriction removed. - Fall Chinook Salmon seasons
The fall Chinook Salmon seasons and limits for the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers are included in the 2022-24 seasons and rules booklet. - Coho Salmon Seasons
Clearwater and Snake rivers seasons will be incorporated into the updated seasons and limits booklet. - Snake River Steelhead Catch and Release Season
The catch-and-release steelhead season in the Snake River was extended by opening the season one month earlier on July 1 - Clearwater River Basin Steelhead Seasons and Limits
New season schedule provides better opportunities for catch-and-release and harvest-oriented steelhead anglers. Anglers will be able to fish during each of the two runs of steelhead that use the Clearwater River and will provide a time (September 10 through October 14) when steelhead, fall Chinook salmon, and Coho salmon could all be harvested at the same time
- McCall Area Alpine Lakes
Brush, Crystal, Lake Rock, Long, Serene and Tule lakes reverted back to general fishing seasons and limits (6 trout bag limit, no length limit)
Southwest – Nampa
- Dick Knox Pond
Trophy bass regulations adopted where bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches
Magic Valley
-
Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Kokanee daily bag limit reduced from 25 to 15 -
Baker Lake
Minimum length and bait/barbless hook restrictions removed, but maintained the 2-trout limit
Southeast
- Southeast Idaho “No Motors” Restrictions
“No motors” restrictions removed on Bannock Reservoir, Winder Reservoir and Dike Lake - Southeast Idaho “Electric Motors Only” Restrictions
“Electric motors only” restrictions removed at Foster Reservoir - Weston Reservoir Boating Restrictions
Boating access restrictions will be posted locally at the reservoir as a condition of access through private property, and will not appear in the fishing regulations - Kokanee Creek Fishing Closure
Existing fishing closures on Kokanee Creek removed - Portneuf River
Open fishing on the section near Lava Hot Springs from the Center Street Bridge upstream to the East Main Street Bridge - Bannock Reservoir, Edson Fichter Pond and Montpelier Rearing Pond
General fishing seasons and limits adopted, increasing the trout limit from 2 to 6 per day - Blackfoot Reservoir
Size, bag and possession limit restrictions removed for bass - Bear Lake
Harvest of either adipose fin-clipped (hatchery origin) or unclipped (wild origin) Bonneville cutthroat trout allowed. The 2-trout daily bag limit remains the same. - Snake River (section from Eagle Rock to American Falls Dam)
Simplified seasons and limits by changing gamefish harvest, bait and barbless hook restrictions as follows:
Oct. 16 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – limit is 0 for trout, catch-and-release. Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 15 – trout limit is 2
Upper Snake
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Henrys Lake
Current fishing season extended from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Feb. 14 (the trout limit is 2), and adopted a new catch/release season from Feb. 15 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend (the trout limit is 0, catch-and-release)
Salmon
- Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers
The 14-inch minimum length limit on trout was removed, but maintains no harvest of cutthroat trout - Stanley Lake
The lake trout daily bag limit was reduced. Of the 6-trout bag limit, only 2 may be lake trout.