FISHING -- Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently approved fishing rules changes for the 2016-18 seasons. New rules will take effect on Jan. 1.

Statewide changes include a new possession limit, which 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.

Free Fishing Day will be on June 11, 2016; June 10, 2017 and June 9, 2018.  These dates are the Saturday after the first full week in June and correspond with national outdoor recognition events.

Following are rule changes that apply to specific bodies of water in North Idaho:

Panhandle Region

• Lake Pend Oreille - The Rainbow Trout daily bag limit will be reduced from 6 to 2; only 1 over 20 inches.
• Clark Fork River - Trout limit is 0 from December 1 – Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Remove the 6 Kokanee bag limit, which reverts it to the regional bag limit of 15 Kokanee).
• Clark Fork River tributaries and Pack River and tributaries – No bait will be allowed during the existing catch-and-release season which is December 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.
• Spirit Lake - The Kokanee daily bag limit will be raised from 15 to 25 fish.
• Hayden Lake – Minimum length on largemouth bass that can be harvested will increase from 16 inches to 20 inches.

Clearwater Region

• Mann Lake – Daily bag limit on bass will change from general (6) to 2 bass; none under 16 inches.
• Deyo Reservoir– Daily bag limit on bass will change from general (6) to 2 bass; none under 16 inches.
• Spring Valley Reservoir – Daily bag limit on bass will change from general (6) to 2 bass; none under 16 inches.
• Dworshak Reservoir – From Grandad Bridge upstream to end-of-flat-water; bait will now be allowed year-around.
• Clearwater River, South Fork – Rainbow Trout limit will change from 6 adipose fin-clipped fish to a daily bag limit of 2 Rainbow Trout with or without an adipose fin.
• Palouse River and tributaries – Daily bag limit for trout will be reduced from 6 to 2.
• 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.