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Fishing at Flaming Gorge
A summary of the different rules in Utah and Wyoming
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Resident anglers: To fish across state lines at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, you must have a valid resident fishing license from one state and a reciprocal or nonresident fishing permit from the other state.
For example, if you buy a Utah resident fishing license, you can fish the Utah portion of Flaming Gorge. After buying your Utah license, if you decide you also want to fish the Wyoming portion of the reservoir, you must buy a Wyoming reciprocal fishing permit, or a Wyoming nonresident fishing license.
Nonresident anglers: If you are not a resident of either Utah or Wyoming — and you want to fish all of Flaming Gorge Reservoir — you must purchase nonresident fishing licenses from both states.
Please review the latest Utah Fishing Guidebook and Wyoming Fishing Regulations book for all fishing rules and regulations at Flaming Gorge and other waterbodies. Also look up Flaming Gorge on the Fish Utah website for more information about the reservoir and current fishing conditions.
Rule tables
The following tables summarize the different fishing regulations in the Utah and Wyoming portions of Flaming Gorge, as of 2023. Regulations that are identical are not shown.
| Daily creel limits | Wyoming | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and salmon | Four trout or salmon in the aggregate, excluding lake trout. No more than three may be kokanee salmon. |
Four trout or salmon (a combined total), excluding lake trout. |
| Smallmouth bass | Must be returned to the water immediately | Three fish |
| Possession limits and closures | Wyoming | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Possession limits — general | Home/storage is included as part of the possession limit | Home/storage is not included as part of the possession limit Even if you are licensed in both states, in Utah you may only take one daily limit each day |
| Additional limit in the field | Not allowed | Twice the daily possession limit for all species |
| Lake trout possession limit | 12 per day and 24 in possession, but only 1 may exceed 28 inches | Twice the daily limit in possession |
| Kokanee closure | From Sept. 10 to Nov. 30; closure is specific to Flaming Gorge Reservoir | From Sept. 10 through Nov. 30; closure is statewide |
| Lake trout closure | No lake trout closure | Linwood Bay is closed to nighttime angling (sunset to sunrise) from Oct. 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of December |
| Live fish release (culling) | Not allowed | Any trout, salmon or grayling not immediately released is part of your daily limit |
| Fishing methods | Wyoming | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass underwater spearfishing | Total closure | Closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday of June |
| Angler's distance from gear while open water fishing | Distance not defined | Not to exceed 100 feet |
| Angler's distance from gear while ice fishing | Not to exceed 900 feet | Not to exceed 100 feet |
| Ice fishing; names attached to gear | Required, if using more than two lines | Required, if using more than one line |
| Ice hole size | No restriction on hole size | 18-inch maximum width |
| Ice fishing shelters | Must be removed | No regulation |
| Game fish parts as bait | Internal organs, eggs, eyes, fins and skin allowed | Eggs only |
| Chumming | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Trapping/seining nongame fish | Seining permit needed | Only fishing license needed |
| Licenses and permits | Wyoming | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Resident youth | Residents under 14 don't need a license | Residents under 12 don't need a license |
| Nonresident youth | Nonresidents under 14 don't need a license; limit is part of adult limit | Nonresidents under 12 don't need a license; limit is the youth's (independent of any adult limit) |
| Reciprocal fishing permits* | Fee is $30 Valid for an entire calendar year |
Fee is $10 Valid for 365 days from the date of purchase |
| AIS watercraft permits/decals | Fees are required for motorized and nonmotorized watercraft for both residents and nonresidents. (See this page for fee details.) | Fees are required for all motorized boats not registered in Utah. (See STDoftheSea.utah.gov for details.) |
*Utah reciprocal fishing permits are available online and from authorized license agents and Division offices.
Wyoming reciprocal fishing permits and fishing licenses are available online or by calling the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at 307-777-4600.
| Other regulations | Wyoming | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Filleting game fish | Can fillet all species, except lake trout, on the water while fishing. A piece of skin on fillets is required. | Can't fillet any fish until after completing the act of fishing. A piece of skin on fillets is not required. |
| Fishing contests | No fee | Fee |
| Live crayfish transportation | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Other crayfish regulations | Multiple differences exist between the two states; check each state's guidebook for the complete regulations. |
|
| Salamanders as bait | Salamanders are allowed as bait. Wyoming to adopt Utah regulation statewide in January 2022. |
Use or possession of live or dead salamanders is prohibited while fishing. |
It is your responsibility to know and follow each state's laws and rules for Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and some of those changed this year. Please see page 30 of the Utah Fishing Guidebook or pages 14 and 15 of the Wyoming Fishing Regulations book for the laws and rules specific to each state's portion of Flaming Gorge.
