Wyoming fishing rules from alpine streams to big reservoirs
Wyoming’s statewide limits are only the first layer. The legal answer can change by drainage area, individual water, trout species, fish length, tackle type, season, live-bait zone, national park boundary and even current water temperature.
What matters right now in August 2026
Chapter 46
Wyoming’s 2026 fishing regulation changes took effect January 1, 2026.
Snake River + Flat Creek
WGFD lifted the voluntary afternoon fishing restrictions for these Jackson-area waters effective August 14, 2026.
Other trout waters
Heat-related voluntary restrictions can remain or change on other waters. Check the live WGFD heat page before a summer trout trip.
North Platte tailwaters
Several famous North Platte reaches now require single-point barbless hooks.
Do not ask “What’s the Wyoming limit?” until you know these five things
Wyoming divides fishing regulations into five major drainage areas.
The statewide trout limit is different for lakes and streams.
Brook trout, lake trout, ordinary trout, walleye and pike can use completely different rules.
A named lake or river reach can override the statewide limit.
Barbless hooks, artificial-only water, live bait and ice fishing can add another restriction.
Wyoming’s five fishing areas explain why neighboring waters can have different rules
Area 1
Snake River, Salt River, Greys River and western drainage systems.
Important for Jackson, Snake River and native cutthroat management.
Area 2
Wind River / Bighorn system and associated central-northwestern waters.
Walleye, sauger and trout exceptions are common.
Area 3
Powder, Tongue and northeastern drainage systems.
Includes special pike and trophy-trout waters.
Area 4
Green, Little Snake, Bear River and Great Divide Basin drainages.
Includes Flaming Gorge and extensive invasive-fish harvest rules.
Area 5
North Platte, Sweetwater and South Platte drainage systems.
Includes Miracle Mile, Gray Reef, Alcova, Glendo and Seminoe.
2026 Wyoming statewide creel & possession limits
Use this table only after confirming that your water does not have a more specific Area or individual-water exception.
| Species/category | Statewide limit | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Trout — lakes | 6 | No more than one trout may exceed 16 inches unless a special rule says otherwise. |
| Trout — streams | 3 | No more than one trout may exceed 16 inches. Combined stream + lake total may not exceed six. |
| Brook trout | 16 | Brook trout are excluded from Wyoming’s ordinary combined trout category. Area exceptions exist. |
| Lake trout + splake | 6 combined | No more than one may exceed 24 inches statewide unless a special-water rule changes the limit. |
| Burbot / ling | 3 | Major drainage exceptions apply; some areas classify burbot as nongame with unlimited harvest. |
| Channel catfish | 6 | Statewide baseline. |
| Largemouth + smallmouth bass | 6 combined | Individual waters can use reduced limits or length restrictions. |
| Northern pike | Check Area | There is no single useful statewide number; several drainages classify pike differently. |
| Walleye | 6 | Important Area 5 and individual-water exceptions apply. |
| Sauger | 2 | Some drainage rules combine walleye and sauger differently. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 2 | Statewide baseline. |
| Tiger muskie | 1 | All tiger muskie under 36 inches must be released immediately. |
| Whitefish | 6 | Statewide baseline unless an Area exception applies. |
| Yellow perch + crappie + bluegill + listed panfish | 50 combined | The 50-fish statewide combination includes yellow perch, black bullhead, stonecat, crappie, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, green sunfish-bluegill hybrid and freshwater drum. |
Why “6 in lakes + 3 in streams” does not mean you can keep 9 trout
Ordinary statewide lake baseline.
Ordinary statewide stream baseline.
Unless a specific regulation provides otherwise, the combined trout total from streams and lakes cannot exceed six.
Brook trout, lake trout and splake are separate categories under the statewide table.
Stringer, bucket or livewell = fish reduced to possession
Immediate release
If the fish will not count toward your creel, release it immediately with as little injury as possible.
Placed in a container
A fish placed on a stringer, in a container or livewell, or otherwise not immediately released, is considered reduced to possession.
No later “upgrade” release
A fish reduced to possession may not later be released alive without prior written Department approval.
How Wyoming expects harvested fish to remain identifiable
If a length limit applies
The whole body must remain intact while in transit or in the field. Gills and entrails may be removed.
If no length limit applies
A piece of skin large enough to identify the species — at least one square inch — must generally remain on each fillet while in transit or in the field.
Walleye / sauger exceptions
Areas 2, 3 and 5 contain special filleting provisions for some walleye and sauger waters. Read the exact drainage rule before cleaning fish at the vehicle or campsite.
Wyoming fishing regulation changes that can catch returning anglers off guard
Single-point barbless hooks on high-use tailwaters
New 2026 regulations require single-point barbless hooks on important North Platte River tailwater reaches, including Miracle Mile and regulated reaches around Alcova / Gray Reef.
Pegged attractors prohibited
Anglers may not use pegged attractors on the specified Fremont Canyon and Gray Reef reaches.
Additional April 1–May 15 spawning closure
A reach from the Ledge Creek confluence downstream about 1.2 miles to S Gulch is closed to fishing from April 1 through May 15. The existing cable-crossing closure also applies during that period.
Six-trout harvest opportunity below Jackson Lake Dam
From 150 feet below Jackson Lake Dam to the gauging station approximately 1,500 feet downstream, the daily trout limit increased from three to six for 2026 and the previous length restriction was removed.
October fishing closure removed
Starting in 2026, Jackson Lake is no longer closed to fishing for the entire month of October under the former long-standing rule.
North Platte drainage upstream of Dave Johnston: 12 walleye
From the Colorado-Wyoming line downstream to Dave Johnston Power Plant Dam, the walleye creel and possession limit is 12, with no more than six walleye over 14 inches.
New Area 5 trout rule
Diamond Lake in Carbon County now has a three-trout daily/possession limit, with no more than one trout over 20 inches.
The same North Platte River has different rules by reach
| Reach / water | Key 2026 rule | What to pack / do |
|---|---|---|
| Miracle Mile — Kortes Dam to Pathfinder | Single-point barbless hooks only. | De-barb or replace tackle before reaching the water. |
| Pathfinder downstream reach to Alcova | Trout limit 1; trout under 20″ must be released. Single-point barbless artificial flies/lures only. Pegged attractors prohibited. | Do not carry bait onto this regulated reach. |
| Alcova Dam to Gray Reef Reservoir | Single-point barbless hooks only. | Check every hook before casting. |
| Gray Reef Dam to Highway 220 | Trout limit 1; trout under 20″ released. Single-point barbless artificial flies/lures only. Pegged attractors prohibited. | Trophy-regulation reach — measure before possession. |
| Gray Reef cable crossings | Closed April 1–May 15 between designated Closed Area signs. | Do not assume an otherwise open river makes this sub-reach legal. |
| Ledge Creek to S Gulch reach | Closed April 1–May 15. | New 2026 spawning-protection closure. |
| North Platte drainage to Dave Johnston Dam | Walleye: 12; no more than 6 may exceed 14″. | Keep walleye whole until off the water/ice and finished fishing. |
Flaming Gorge does not follow Wyoming’s ordinary lake-trout table
No more than three may be kokanee salmon.
Classified as nongame for this regulation.
Maximum in possession.
All smallmouth bass must be returned immediately.
Kokanee spawning rule
All kokanee salmon caught from September 10 through November 30 must be released immediately.
Fish cleaning
Game fish must remain whole while you are on the water or ice and still fishing. Once off the water/ice and finished fishing, game fish may be filleted for transport with at least one square inch of skin retained for identification.
Wyoming live-bait rules change dramatically at the Continental Divide
Areas 1 & 4
Use or possession of live baitfish is prohibited throughout these areas.
Area 4 allows baitfish collection in certain waters under a seining license, but captured fish must be killed and used only as dead bait.
Areas 2, 3 & 5
Live baitfish may be used only where the drainage-area regulations specifically authorize them.
Commercially produced live baitfish and wild-caught baitfish have different transport and possession requirements.
Statewide fishing-method rules
Unless a specific regulation provides otherwise.
Single hooked devices attached to each line.
Wyoming prohibits attempting to take fish by snagging.
Where fishing with bait is otherwise permitted.
Minnows are not the only bait with transport rules
Crayfish
Crayfish may be used as live bait only in the waterbody where they were captured. Once transported away, they cannot be used as live fishing bait.
Amphibians & reptiles
They may not be used as fishing bait. Possession of live or dead amphibians and reptiles while fishing is prohibited.
Goldfish & koi
Live goldfish and koi may not be possessed while fishing under Wyoming’s nongame-wildlife rules.
Six lines can be legal on selected Wyoming waters — but not everywhere
When using more than two lines under the special winter provision.
The six-line exception applies only during the ice-covered period on waters listed under Wyoming’s Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision.
Examples
Alcova, Boysen, Flaming Gorge, Glendo, Gray Reef, Keyhole, Pathfinder, Seminoe, Lake DeSmet and other specifically listed waters.
Name your lines
When using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up.
Check your own gear
The angler must remain within 300 yards and must check their own lines.
Wyoming AIS compliance starts before your boat touches the water
Watercraft transported into Wyoming from March 1 through November 30 must be inspected before launch.
Motorized and nonmotorized watercraft transporters must stop at established AIS stations on their route.
Livewells, bilges, ballast, hull and motor water must be drained. Drain plugs must remain removed/open during overland transport.
Most watercraft contacting Wyoming waters require a current AIS decal.
2026 AIS fee transition
Current motorized AIS fee structure remains in effect through October.
- Wyoming-registered motorized watercraft: $10
- Out-of-state motorized watercraft: $30
The Commission-approved motorized decal fees increase.
- Wyoming resident / registered motorized fee: $20
- Nonresident / out-of-state motorized fee: $50
Nonmotorized AIS fees were not part of that motorized fee increase. Confirm the current decal page at purchase.
A legal catch-and-release trip can still be a bad idea when Wyoming water gets hot
WGFD recommends considering keeping legally harvestable trout rather than repeatedly catch-and-releasing fish under increasing thermal stress.
WGFD advises anglers not to release trout once water temperatures reach approximately 70°F.
2026 Wyoming fishing license requirements & fees
Age 14 through 17.
Before the 18th birthday.
Who needs a fishing license?
May take a full legal creel limit.
Unless a specific exemption applies.
The child’s harvested fish count toward the accompanying adult’s limit.
A properly licensed youth may possess a full creel limit.
Do not automatically add the $21.50 stamp to every fishing license
Most anglers using a qualifying 12-month license need a Conservation Stamp, but several licenses are exempt.
Common fishing-license exemptions
- Daily fishing license
- Nonresident five-consecutive-day fishing license
- Special limited fishing permit
- Qualifying disabled-veteran / disability licenses
- Qualifying Pioneer privileges
If you do need the stamp
Proof of a valid Conservation Stamp must be in your possession while exercising the fishing privilege.
Wyoming issues the stamp electronically.
Wyoming’s 2026 Free Fishing Day was June 6
2026 — already passed.
On qualifying Wyoming public waters for that day.
Creel, size, gear and closure rules remain in force.
“Fishing in Wyoming” does not always mean Wyoming fishing-license rules
WGFD jurisdiction
Use your Wyoming license and the applicable Chapter 46 drainage/water rules.
Separate National Park permit
Wyoming state fishing licenses are not valid or required for Yellowstone National Park fishing.
Anglers age 16+ need a Yellowstone fishing permit.
Current permit prices: 3-day $40, 7-day $55, season $75.
Wyoming license applies
Grand Teton fishing is generally regulated according to Wyoming state fishing laws and requires a Wyoming fishing license.
Separate park boating permits and AIS requirements can also apply.
Yellowstone’s fishing rules can change independently of Wyoming’s
Yellowstone uses its own temperature closures, native-fish conservation areas and park fishing regulations.
Most Yellowstone waters traditionally use the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through October 31 unless a specific rule provides otherwise.
Many park conservation areas require catch-and-release of native fish while encouraging or requiring removal of certain nonnative fish.
Yellowstone issued and adjusted heat-related fishing restrictions during summer 2026 independently from WGFD’s state-water advisories.
Examples of Wyoming waters with seasonal closures
| Water | Closure / restriction | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bump Sullivan Reservoir | Closed November 1 through the last day of February. | Area 5 named-water exception. |
| Springer Reservoir | Closed November 1 through February 15. | Do not assume winter ice automatically means legal fishing. |
| Currant Creek | Closed April 1 through June 30. | Cutthroat protection; artificial-only rule also applies when open. |
| Green River below Fontenelle Dam — first mile | Closed October 1 through December 31. | Specific Area 4 seasonal protection. |
| Kendall Warm Springs + creek | Closed throughout the calendar year. | Permanent special-water closure. |
| North Piney Lake + tributaries | Closed June 1 through July 15. | Also carries cutthroat and artificial-only restrictions. |
| Gray Reef spawning reaches | April 1 through May 15. | Specific signed/cable and Ledge Creek–S Gulch sections. |
Before putting a Wyoming fish in the cooler
- Identify the exact species. A brook trout, lake trout and rainbow trout can belong to three different statewide limit categories.
- Decide whether you are on a lake or stream. Wyoming’s ordinary trout limit changes between standing and flowing water.
- Find the drainage Area. Search the individual-water entry inside Areas 1–5.
- Check length restrictions. Some waters use minimum length; others protect a slot or limit the number of oversized fish.
- Count fish already in possession. Stored fish can count toward possession even when caught on an earlier day.
- Check tackle restriction. Artificial-only, barbless and no-pegged-attractor rules can apply.
- Confirm current heat / emergency closure. This step matters during warm summer periods.
- Keep harvested fish identifiable. Follow whole-fish or skin-on-fillet transport requirements.
Twelve ways anglers misread Wyoming fishing regulations
Ordinary streams use a three-trout limit.
The ordinary combined trout ceiling is six.
Brook trout have their own statewide category.
Areas 1 and 4 prohibit live baitfish; other areas restrict them by water.
Wild-caught live baitfish possession areas restrict transport.
The 2026 rule requires single-point barbless hooks.
Pegged-attractor distance can turn a rig into illegal snagging gear.
Once reduced to possession, live release is generally prohibited.
Whole-body requirements preserve legal measurement.
Watercraft transporters must stop at established stations on their route.
Yellowstone uses a separate park fishing permit.
Voluntary restrictions can be added or lifted quickly.
Wyoming regulation pack for your phone
- Screenshot your specific Area regulation.
- Screenshot the individual lake or river exception.
- Save target-species creel + possession + size rules.
- Save the WGFD Fishing in the Heat page if traveling in summer.
- Carry or save proof of your license and Conservation Stamp when required.
- If boating, save your AIS inspection/decal information.
- Carry a fish ruler longer than your target species’ legal threshold.
- For North Platte tailwaters, inspect every hook before leaving the vehicle.
- If entering Yellowstone, switch to the National Park fishing permit and rulebook.
Ask Wyoming Game and Fish a specific question
Best choice for water-specific interpretation.
Use this phone script
Official Wyoming pages for the final live check
The working regulations are explained above. Use these pages for the last check before fishing, buying a license or launching a watercraft.
Wyoming fishing regulations — practical questions answered
What is the statewide trout limit in Wyoming in 2026?
Unless a special water rule applies, Wyoming allows six trout from lakes and three trout from streams, with no more than one ordinary-category trout over 16 inches. The combined stream-and-lake total cannot exceed six. Brook trout, lake trout and splake are separate categories.
What is the Wyoming walleye limit?
The statewide baseline is six walleye, but important drainage exceptions exist. In the North Platte drainage from the Colorado-Wyoming state line downstream to Dave Johnston Power Plant Dam, the 2026 limit is 12 walleye, with no more than six over 14 inches.
How many fishing rods can I use in Wyoming?
The ordinary statewide rule allows a maximum of two rods or poles with the angler in attendance. On waters covered by Wyoming’s Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision, anglers may use up to six lines while fishing through the ice if all additional requirements are followed.
Are barbless hooks required everywhere in Wyoming?
No. Barbless hooks are not a blanket statewide requirement. However, several regulated North Platte River tailwater reaches now require single-point barbless hooks under the 2026 rules.
Can I use live minnows anywhere in Wyoming?
No. Live baitfish are prohibited throughout Areas 1 and 4. In Areas 2, 3 and 5 they are allowed only in specifically designated waters and are subject to origin, receipt and transport requirements.
What is the lake trout limit at Flaming Gorge?
In the Wyoming portion of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, lake trout 28 inches and smaller are classified as nongame fish with no creel or possession limit. No more than one lake trout over 28 inches may be possessed.
Do children need a Wyoming fishing license?
Wyoming residents under age 14 do not need a fishing license. A nonresident under 14 may fish without a license when accompanied by an adult with a valid Wyoming fishing license, but the child’s catch counts toward that adult’s creel unless the youth has their own valid license.
Does a Wyoming fishing license require a Conservation Stamp?
Many 12-month fishing-license holders need the Wyoming Conservation Stamp, currently $21.50. Daily fishing licenses, nonresident five-day licenses and several special or disability-related privileges are exempt.
Can I fish Yellowstone National Park with a Wyoming fishing license?
No. A Wyoming state fishing license is not valid or required inside Yellowstone National Park. Anglers age 16 and older need a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit and must follow the park’s separate fishing rules.
Is my Wyoming fishing license valid in Grand Teton National Park?
Grand Teton National Park generally follows Wyoming fishing laws and requires a valid Wyoming fishing license. Additional park boating permits and aquatic invasive species requirements can apply.
Can I release a fish after putting it in my livewell?
Generally no. Wyoming considers a fish placed on a stringer, in a container or livewell, or otherwise not released immediately, to have been reduced to possession. A fish reduced to possession may not later be released alive without prior written Department approval.
Are Wyoming fishing waters open 24 hours a day?
Wyoming’s statewide rule generally permits fishing year-round, 24 hours a day, but many individual waters have seasonal, spawning, emergency, access or method-specific closures. Always check the named-water regulation.
Statewide limit first. Drainage rule second. Exact water last.
That three-step habit prevents most Wyoming regulation mistakes. Then add today’s closure status, legal tackle, license, bait and boating requirements before you cast.
Regulation review completed . Emergency closures, voluntary heat restrictions, access conditions and Commission regulations can change after publication.
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