New Idaho fishing rules kick in Jan. 1

FISHING — Idaho anglers have a list of new fishing rules that take effect Jan. 1.

In the Panhandle Region, Lake Pend Oreille is in the spotlight for several notable changes:

• Kokanee fishing will be allowed for the first time since 1999, with a six-fish daily limit.
• The open season and $15 bounty on rainbow trout will be eliminated. Anglers will be able to keep up to six rainbows a day, only one over 20 inches. The bounty on mackinaw remains in place.
• The Clark Fork River and tributaries will be closed to rainbow trout harvest Dec. 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend to protect spawners.

Cutthroat trout will get more protection in a new rule that requires anglers in the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe river drainages to release any trout with red/orange slashes under the jaw. The new rule is to address the difficulty anglers were having properly distinguishing protected cutthroat trout with “cuttbow” hybrids.

Priest Lake's kokanee limit is being reduced from 15 to 6.

A complete listing of Idaho's new fishing rules is available on the IDFG website or in the new fishing rules pamplet available where fishing licenses are sold.