Wyoming fishing rules: the statewide limit is only your first check
Find the rule that actually applies to today’s trip: current heat restrictions, trout limits, special river reaches, hook rules, live bait, ice fishing, Flaming Gorge, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Wyoming’s 2026 regulation changes.
Before using the regulation table, check what changed this week
Snake River + Flat Creek
WGFD lifted the voluntary afternoon fishing restrictions after cooler water conditions returned.
Bighorn: Wedding → Hot Springs
WGFD’s current heat page lists the reach from Wedding of the Waters to the Hot Springs State Park boat ramp as closed to catch-and-release fishing from noon to sunrise.
Bighorn: Hot Springs → Skelton
WGFD’s current voluntary temperature-related advisory page lists this downstream reach as closed to fishing.
Madison • Firehole • lower Gibbon
These Yellowstone waters remain under full temporary fishing closure because of warm water and low-flow concerns.
Wyoming limits people search most often
Primary trout combination.
Only one over 16″ under general rule.
Separate category.
Only one over 24″ generally.
Upper North Platte special rule: 12.
Combined category; see full table.
Six checks before you decide “legal keeper”
Lake, reservoir or exact river reach—not just the nearest town.
Wyoming drainage-area exceptions are part of the legal answer.
Trout categories, brook trout, splake, burbot and pike can differ.
Minimum, maximum, trophy threshold or protected slot.
Number of lines, bait, artificial-only, barbless or pegged attractor.
Spawning closure, heat advisory, park closure or AIS issue.
Measure in a straight line from snout to tail
Length is measured in a straight line along a flat surface from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.
A precise ruler matters for tiger muskie, special trout, bass and walleye rules.
Once a fish goes into a livewell, container or on a stringer, Wyoming treats it differently from a fish released immediately.
Wyoming game-fish creel & possession limits
| Species/category | Creel / possession | Important statewide condition |
|---|---|---|
| Trout combination — lakes | 6 | Includes brown, cutthroat, grayling, golden, rainbow, salmon, tiger trout and other qualifying trout hybrids. Excludes brook trout, lake trout and splake. |
| Trout combination — streams | 3 | No more than one may exceed 16 inches under the statewide baseline. |
| Streams + lakes trout combination | 6 total | This prevents simply adding six lake fish and three stream fish. |
| Brook trout | 16 | Separate statewide category; special waters can lower it. |
| Lake trout + splake | 6 combined | Normally only one lake trout or splake may exceed 24 inches. |
| Whitefish | 6 | Park and drainage exceptions can apply. |
| Largemouth + smallmouth bass | 6 combined | Individual reservoirs can use different length rules. |
| Walleye | 6 | Upper North Platte 2026 exception increases harvest to 12. |
| Channel catfish | 6 | Statewide baseline. |
| Northern pike | Check drainage | Wyoming does not use one statewide pike number. |
| Tiger muskie | 1 | All tiger muskie under 36 inches must be released immediately. |
| Yellow perch + black bullhead + stonecat + crappie + rock bass + bluegill + pumpkinseed + green sunfish / hybrid + freshwater drum | 50 combined | The 50 applies to the category in combination, not automatically 50 of each species. |
| Burbot / ling | 3 statewide baseline | Major drainage exceptions apply; Area 4 has no limit. |
| Sauger | 2 | Distinguish sauger from walleye before counting harvest. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 2 | Check drainage exceptions. |
The livewell decision can become permanent
Decide immediately whether it is being released.
Wyoming treats a fish placed there—or otherwise not immediately released—as reduced to possession.
A fish reduced to possession may not simply be released alive later without prior written Department approval.
Wyoming fishing-rule changes that matter on the water
Single-point barbless
The Miracle Mile, Alcova Afterbay, Gray Reef and Fremont Canyon special-regulation sections use the new single-point barbless hook requirement.
Fremont Canyon + Gray Reef
Trout beads and other pegged attractors are prohibited on the affected special sections.
Below Ledge Creek
The Gray Reef-area North Platte reach downstream of Ledge Creek has a fishing closure from April 1 through May 15.
Upper North Platte
Walleye harvest increased to 12 on the affected waters upstream of Dave Johnston Power Plant Dam.
Dam-to-gauge trout limit
The trout limit increased from three to six on the specified reach below Jackson Lake Dam.
Wyoming removed October closure
WGFD says Jackson Lake is open during October beginning in 2026. Grand Teton’s webpage still conflicts with that statement; see below.
“Artificial lure” does not automatically mean your hook is legal
On the affected special-regulation North Platte sections, Wyoming now requires a single-point barbless hook.
Wyoming’s general pegged-attractor rule vs the 2026 North Platte exception
General Wyoming concept
A qualifying pegged attractor fixed within two inches of the eye of a bare hook or artificial fly can fall within Wyoming’s artificial-lure definition.
Fremont Canyon / Gray Reef
Do not rely on that general rule. The 2026 special-water rule prohibits pegged attractors on the affected reaches.
Twelve walleye allowed—but only six may be over 14 inches
Waters where statewide Wyoming limits can give you the wrong answer
| Water | Special rule | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Green River trophy reach below Fontenelle | Trout limit 1; trout under 20″ released; artificial flies/lures only. | Carry a ruler and leave natural bait out of the fishing setup. |
| Soda Lake | Trout limit 1; fish under 20″ released; artificial flies/lures only. | Trophy-water rule overrides normal lake limit. |
| Kemmerer City Reservoir | Trout 3; only one over 16″; artificial flies/lures only. | Do not use the general six-trout lake baseline. |
| Halfmoon Lake | Lake trout 2; only one over 24″. | Much lower than statewide lake trout/splake baseline. |
| North Piney Lake | Closed June 1–July 15; cutthroat 1; artificial flies/lures only. | Check calendar before checking creel. |
| Kendall Warm Springs | Closed to fishing throughout the calendar year. | Do not rely on a general open-season assumption. |
| Lake Cameahwait / Bass Lake | Largemouth bass 2; bass 10–15″ inclusive released; only one may exceed 15″. | Protected slot plus oversized-fish sublimit. |
| East Newton Lake | All trout, including brook trout, released; artificial flies/lures only. | Catch-and-release replaces statewide creel. |
| North Fork Shoshone — specified reach | Closed April 1–June 30. | Spawning-season closure controls before species limit. |
| Shoshone Lake / Creek | Closed September 1–June 14; brook trout 6 when open. | Long seasonal closure. |
| Rise of Middle Fork Popo Agie → Sinks Canyon bridge | Closed throughout the calendar year. | Year-round no-fishing reach. |
Wyoming method rules people overlook
More than two lines are allowed only under the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision.
Only on listed waters while fishing through ice.
Bait possession/use is prohibited where artificial flies/lures only apply.
Wyoming’s pegged-attractor distance rules are designed partly around snagging concerns.
What “artificial flies and lures only” excludes
Natural organisms or edible parts do not become artificial simply because they are attached to a lure.
Natural or processed food-based attractants are not included in Wyoming’s artificial-lure definition.
Added scent or flavor can make a setup unsuitable for an artificial-only water.
Six lines are legal only on specifically listed waters
When using more than two, your name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up.
The angler must remain no more than 300 yards from all lines.
Anglers using the provision must personally check their lines.
Which Wyoming waters allow the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision?
The current rule includes Alcova Reservoir, Bighorn Lake in Big Horn County, Big Sandy Reservoir, Boulder Lake, Boysen Reservoir, Deaver Reservoir, Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Fontenelle Reservoir, Glendo Reservoir, Goldeneye Reservoir, Gray Reef Reservoir, Grayrocks Reservoir, Guernsey Reservoir, Harrington Reservoir, Hawk Springs Reservoir, Keyhole Reservoir, Kortes Reservoir, Lake DeSmet, Lake Hattie, Ocean Lake, Pathfinder Reservoir, Pilot Butte Reservoir, Seminoe Reservoir, Sulphur Creek Reservoir, Wardell Reservoir, Wheatland Reservoir #1, Wheatland Reservoir #3 and Woodruff Reservoir. Recheck Chapter 46 before relying on the list because the Commission can amend designated waters.
“Can I use minnows?” cannot be answered statewide
Live-bait authorization is tied to areas and designated waters.
A neighboring reservoir can have a completely different bait rule.
Wild-caught baitfish can have collection, transportation and possession-area restrictions.
Flaming Gorge does not follow ordinary statewide lake-trout or burbot limits
Current Wyoming regulation designates these smaller lake trout as nongame.
No more than one lake trout over 28 inches may be possessed.
Area 4 includes Flaming Gorge, Fontenelle and Big Sandy Reservoir.
Subject to the spawning closure below.
All kokanee caught during this period must be released immediately.
WGFD requires Area 4 burbot to be killed rather than released.
Current Wyoming rule requires largemouth and smallmouth bass under 15 inches to be released.
Main Wyoming fishing-license costs in 2026
Required for many 12-month fishing-license holders unless exempt.
Daily fishing-license users are listed among Conservation Stamp exemptions.
The five-consecutive-day fishing license is also stamp-exempt while that privilege is being exercised.
Resident and nonresident children use different Wyoming rules
May fish without purchasing a Wyoming fishing license.
May fish without a personal license when accompanied by an adult with a valid Wyoming fishing license.
The child’s fish count toward the accompanying adult’s applicable creel limit.
Wyoming AIS fees change later in 2026
Current motorized decal
Wyoming resident: $10
Nonresident: $30
Nonmotorized decal: $5 resident / $15 nonresident.
New motorized decal
Wyoming resident: $20
Nonresident: $50
The Commission’s July change applies to motorized-watercraft decal fees. Recheck the purchase system when buying after Nov. 1.
A fishing license does not give permission to cross private land
Obtain landowner permission before entering private property to fish.
WGFD leases public fishing access on participating private or otherwise inaccessible lands. Separate direct permission is not normally required when following the posted Walk-In rules.
Walk-In waters can have approved species, dates, boundaries and access conditions that are separate from the fish creel rule.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone do not use the same permit system
Grand Teton National Park
- Wyoming fishing license required where applicable.
- Wyoming law plus park-specific restrictions.
- Special stream access closures.
- Snake River artificial-only reaches.
- Current Jackson Lake October-source conflict—see below.
Yellowstone National Park
- Wyoming fishing license is not the Yellowstone permit.
- Yellowstone permit required for anglers 16+.
- One attended rod.
- Lead-free artificial tackle.
- Barbless hook points.
- No bait.
- Regional native/nonnative fish management rules.
Grand Teton trout limits & seasonal-access traps
No more than 3 cutthroat; only one cutthroat over 12″.
Only one trout over 16″ and one cutthroat over 12″.
Only one over 24″.
Jackson Lake in October 2026: verify before you fish
Wyoming Game & Fish
WGFD specifically states that the previous October Jackson Lake fishing closure was removed and the lake will remain open in October beginning in 2026.
Grand Teton webpage
The current public NPS fishing page still displays “Jackson Lake: Closed to fishing October 1–31.”
Yellowstone requires its own permit and its own tackle setup
State fishing licenses are not valid as Yellowstone fishing permits and are not required in place of the park permit.
Children 15 or younger have two park options
Fish under direct adult supervision
A child 15 or younger may fish without a Yellowstone permit when directly supervised by an adult who has a valid park fishing permit.
Free youth permit
A child 15 or younger may obtain the free permit signed by a responsible adult and then fish without direct adult supervision, subject to park rules.
Warm-water closures still in force
Firehole River
Current temporary warm-water closure remains.
Madison River
Current temporary warm-water closure remains.
Gibbon below Norris Campground
Current temporary warm-water closure remains.
Build a Yellowstone-specific tackle box
Only lead-free artificial lures or flies are permitted, subject to the booklet’s limited tackle exceptions.
Hook points must be barbless or the barbs pinched down.
Yellowstone prohibits fishing baits; use approved artificial tackle.
The park booklet prohibits a bare hook with a separate bead pegged above it on the leader.
Correct species identification can determine whether you release—or kill—the fish
Native Trout Conservation Areas
Native fish must be released unharmed. Regional Yellowstone regulations can allow or require removal of nonnative fish.
Lamar / Northeast management
In designated Northeast waters, rainbow trout and identifiable cutthroat-rainbow hybrids are nonnative fish that must be killed under current park rules.
Smallmouth bass
Any smallmouth bass caught anywhere in Yellowstone must be killed and reported to the park.
Even a float tube needs the park’s boating compliance checks
Yellowstone’s 2026 boating season runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through October 31.
All vessels—including float tubes—require the appropriate boat permit, life vest for each passenger and emergency sound device.
All vessels must be inspected by NPS for aquatic invasive species before entering park waters.
What to do when Wyoming trout water gets too warm
- Fish early. Summer morning water is usually cooler than late afternoon water.
- Carry a stream thermometer. WGFD uses temperature monitoring when issuing voluntary restrictions.
- Land fish quickly. Avoid long fights that compound heat stress.
- Keep the fish wet. Minimize handling and photography time.
- At about 70°F, stop catch-and-release trout fishing. Choose a cooler water, fish a warmwater species or end the session.
- Follow the official advisory first. A current posted closure or voluntary restriction overrides your personal temperature judgment.
Add mercury and harmful-bloom checks to the harvest decision
Wyoming fish-consumption guidance can be water-specific.
Larger predatory fish such as walleye, burbot and large trout can accumulate more mercury.
During warm weather, check Wyoming DEQ’s harmful cyanobacterial bloom advisories before using affected water or eating fish.
Wyoming’s 2026 Free Fishing Day has passed
Wyoming pre-fishing regulation checklist
- Exact fishing location: lake, reservoir or exact upstream/downstream river boundary.
- Regulation area: identify the correct drainage-area section in Chapter 46.
- Target species: save creel, possession and legal-length rules.
- Named-water exception: check whether the exact water overrides statewide numbers.
- Current heat / emergency status: check WGFD and NPS current-condition pages.
- Hook setup: confirm single-point, barbless and pegged-attractor requirements.
- Artificial-only definition: remove bait, scents and food-type attractants where prohibited.
- Number of lines: ordinary two-line rule or qualifying Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision.
- Live bait: verify the exact water and possession area.
- License + Conservation Stamp: save digital proof and verify stamp exemption if using a short-term license.
- Watercraft: verify AIS decal, inspection and any lake/park vessel permit.
- Access: confirm public, Walk-In or landowner-permitted access.
- Food safety: check mercury/HCB guidance when taking fish home to eat.
Regulation mistakes this page is designed to prevent
Statewide combined trout possession remains six.
Splake are grouped with lake trout in the current statewide table.
It is a combined category.
A fish placed in a livewell/stringer is reduced to possession.
Six-line use is limited to designated Special Winter Ice Fishing waters.
Wyoming’s artificial definition excludes scents and food-type attractants.
Special 2026 rule prohibits pegged attractors.
Only six of the 12 may exceed 14 inches.
Area 4 management requires burbot to be killed.
Yellowstone has its own NPS fishing permit.
Current Bighorn/Yellowstone status can change faster than annual rules.
Motorized decal prices increase later in 2026.
Need the license side rather than the fish-limit side?
Ask the agency about the exact water—not “Wyoming fishing” generally
“I’m fishing [exact lake/reach] on [date], targeting [species] with [method/bait]. Can you confirm today’s creel, possession, length, tackle, seasonal and temporary-closure rules for that exact location?”
2026 Fishing Regulation Changes video
Wyoming Game and Fish has an official YouTube video explaining the 2026 regulation changes, including North Platte tackle changes and Jackson Region harvest opportunities.
Watch: 2026 Fishing Regulation Changes — Wyoming Game & Fish Official video ID: dK901d0iNl4. VideoObject schema is intentionally not added because the exact uploadDate could not be independently verified during this review.Official sources behind this Wyoming regulation guide
The useful working rules are explained above first. Use these pages for the final legal text, same-day conditions, permit purchase and water-specific verification.
Practical answers before you fish Wyoming
What is Wyoming’s statewide trout limit?
Unless a special-water rule changes it, the primary trout combination generally allows six trout on lakes and three on streams, with a combined lake-and-stream limit of six. Under the general stream rule, no more than one trout may exceed 16 inches. Brook trout and the lake-trout/splake category are separate.
Is splake included in Wyoming’s normal trout combination?
No. The current statewide table excludes brook trout, lake trout and splake from the primary trout combination. Lake trout and splake have their own combined six-fish statewide category, normally with no more than one fish over 24 inches.
What is Wyoming’s panfish limit?
Wyoming uses a 50-fish combined category covering yellow perch, black bullhead, stonecat, crappie, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish and their listed hybrid, plus freshwater drum. Special waters may impose different rules.
Can I release a fish after putting it in my livewell?
Wyoming treats a fish placed on a stringer, in a container or livewell, or otherwise not released immediately as reduced to possession. A fish reduced to possession may not simply be released alive later without prior written Department approval.
How many fishing lines can I use in Wyoming?
Anglers generally may use no more than two lines. On waters specifically listed under the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision, anglers fishing through the ice may use up to six lines. When using more than two, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, the angler must remain within 300 yards and must check their own lines.
What changed on the North Platte River in 2026?
Changes include single-point barbless hook requirements on designated special-regulation sections, prohibition of pegged attractors on the Fremont Canyon and Gray Reef sections, a new April 1 through May 15 spawning closure downstream of Ledge Creek, and increased walleye harvest on affected upper North Platte waters.
What is the 2026 upper North Platte walleye limit?
The affected waters upstream of Dave Johnston Power Plant Dam allow 12 walleye per day or in possession, but no more than six may exceed 14 inches.
Can I use live minnows anywhere in Wyoming?
No. Wyoming regulates live baitfish by area and named water. Dealer-purchased and wild-caught bait can also have different possession and transportation rules.
What is the Flaming Gorge lake trout limit?
On the Wyoming portion of Flaming Gorge, current regulations place no creel or possession limit on lake trout 28 inches or shorter. No more than one lake trout over 28 inches may be possessed.
What is the burbot limit in Wyoming Area 4?
Wyoming Game and Fish states there is no burbot limit in Area 4, including Flaming Gorge, Fontenelle and Big Sandy Reservoir. Area 4 burbot must be killed rather than released.
Which Wyoming heat-related fishing restrictions are current?
As of this August 15 review, Snake River and Flat Creek voluntary afternoon restrictions were lifted August 14. The current WGFD heat page still lists Bighorn River temperature-related restrictions near Thermopolis. Yellowstone’s Madison, Firehole and Gibbon downstream of Norris Campground remain under full temporary fishing closure. Always recheck before fishing because these conditions can change.
Can I fish Yellowstone with a Wyoming fishing license?
No. Yellowstone uses its own National Park Service fishing permit. Anglers age 16 and older need the park permit. A Wyoming state fishing license is not the Yellowstone permit and is not required in place of it.
How much is a Yellowstone fishing permit in 2026?
Yellowstone currently lists a three-day fishing permit at $40, a seven-day permit at $55 and a season permit at $75.
Is Jackson Lake open to fishing in October 2026?
Wyoming Game and Fish states that the previous October closure was removed beginning in 2026, but the current Grand Teton National Park fishing webpage still displays an October 1–31 closure. Because the official sources currently conflict, verify directly with Grand Teton before an October fishing trip.
How much is a Wyoming AIS decal in August 2026?
Through October 31, the current motorized-watercraft decal fees remain $10 for Wyoming residents and $30 for nonresidents. The revised rule effective November 1, 2026 increases those motorized fees to $20 and $50 respectively. Recheck the purchase system after the effective date.
Ask “what is legal on this exact water today?”
That question is much safer than asking only for the Wyoming statewide limit. It forces you to check the drainage exception, seasonal closure, current heat advisory, fish length, tackle, bait, national-park boundary and possession rule before keeping a fish.
Full research review: . Current conditions, temporary restrictions, AIS rules and park closures can change after publication.