HOUGHTON – A new Department of Natural Resources fishing regulation will allow for potentially huge days for inland lake fishermen, George Madison told anglers at the Portage Lake District Library Thursday.

Madison, DNR western U.P. fisheries director, said the DNR has uncombined the catch limit for bass, walleye, pike and flathead catfish.

In the past, he said, anglers were allowed to keep five total fish of proper size from that group daily, with no more than two pike. The new rule allows five each of bass, walleye and flathead catfish, with no more than two pike.

“It’s a good regulation with a lot of support,” Madison said.

Another new rule requires bass tournaments to pre-register with the DNR. Madison said the DNR will then post the information on its site, linking it to a smart phone app that organizers and others can use to contact each other and stay informed.

One goal, he said, is to alert non-competitive fishers.

“People appreciate that they’re not going to run into a bunch of tournament anglers when they get out there,” he said.

In an announcement that met with joy from stream fishers in the audience, he said anglers on some specific streams will now be allowed to take home 10 brook trout instead of the previous limit of five.

Madison said the DNR has moved to publishing its fishing rules guide every two years instead of annually, though some regulations may be adjusted more often as needed.

“Having a two-year process, we can vet proposals in a more thorough manner,” he said.