The Idaho Fish and Game commission set seasons and rules for the 2019-21 fishing seasons at its Nov. 14 meeting in Coeur d'Alene. New rules to take effect Jan. 1 are as follows:
Statewide
Establish June 8, 2019; June 13, 2020; and June 12, 2021 as “Free Fishing Days.” These dates are the Saturday after the first full week in June and correspond with National outdoor recognition events.
Panhandle Region
Region wide − Change the burbot limit to 6 fish. (Hatchery supplementation has allowed for a dramatic increase in burbot abundance in the Kootenai River and tributaries. A harvest fishery is now sustainable. Additionally, burbot have been stocked in Bonner Lake over the past several years. A regional bag limit of six burbot will allow for harvest in the mainstem Kootenai River, tributaries to the Kootenai River, and Bonner Lake.)
Clark Fork − Add a boundary describing where the Clark Fork River ends and where Lake Pend Oreille begins. Remove language stating: “except for the posted area adjacent to the Cabinet Gorge Hatchery.”
Benewah Creek and tributaries − Remove from the Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Deep Creek and tributaries − Remove the seasonal fishing closure and provide a rainbow trout catch-and-release fishery December 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.
Upper Priest Lake and tributaries − Remove the bag and possession limit on lake trout and remove bait and barbless hook restrictions.
Clearwater Region
Region wide − Remove bag and possession limits for bass in rivers and streams.
Fish Lake and Lake Creek (Cedars Area) − Remove from the Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Fish Lake (Cedars Area) − Remove motor restrictions.
Mann Lake − Remove “No boats allowed” from October 1 to December 31.
Deer Creek Reservoir − Change the Tiger Trout daily limit to 2 fish and no Tiger Trout under 14 inches.
Southwest Region
Salmon River and all Salmon River tributaries − Remove bass bag, size, and possession limits
Indian Creek Reservoir − Remove from Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Wilson Springs Ponds − Change all waters within the Wilson Springs Access area, including Wilson Drain to a 2 trout limit.
Deadwood Reservoir and tributaries − Reduce the kokanee limit to 15 per day.
Boise River − Reduce the bag and possession limits on steelhead to 2 fish per day and 6 in possession.
Magic Valley
Big Wood River (Richfield Canal upstream to Magic Dam) − Change the bass limit to 6, any size may be kept.
Billingsley Creek (Section: From the old railroad grade upstream to Tupper Grade) − Remove from Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Silver Creek − Lengthen the catch-and-release season to March 31 on two sections (between Highway 93 upstream to bridge near milepost 187.2 on Highway 20) and implement a catch-and-release season from December 1 through March 31 on one section (bridge near milepost 187.2 on Highway 20 upstream to Kilpatrick Bridge).
Southeast Region
Weston Reservoir − Remove special rules for bass and manage under general fishing regulations.
Deep Creek Reservoir − Remove size, bag and possession limits on bass.
Bannock Reservoir (Wellness Complex) − Change the limit to 2 trout and a general bag limit for all other fish species.
Upper Snake Region
Palisades Lakes (alpine lakes in the Palisades Creek Drainage) − Remove from Special Rule Waters and and manage under general fishing rules.
South Fork Snake River − Remove size restriction on brown trout.
Ririe Reservoir − Remove the ice fishing restricted area and remove from Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Swauger and Fishpole lakes (alpine lakes in Custer County) − Remove from Special Rule Waters and manage under general fishing rules.
Salmon Region
Region wide − Remove bass size, bag and possession limits.