Utah Fishing Regulations

General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)

• ⚠ Limits below apply to most Utah fisheries; some waters have specific bag/size restrictions (see Rules for Specific Waters).
• ⚠ All burbot caught must be immediately killed (do not release - invasive).
• ⚠ Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sep 10 - Nov 30.
• ⚠ Community fisheries: limit 2 fish of most species; release tiger muskellunge.

• Fishing from a boat with a motor is unlawful.

• Limit of 8 trout from Aug. 15–Dec. 31.

• Limit 2 trout.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Fishing from a boat or float tube is unlawful.

• Fishing from a boat with a motor is unlawful.

• Limit 2 trout.
• Anglers may keep snagged Bonneville cisco that are taken through normal, legal fishing activities.
• Cisco may be taken with a handheld dipnet. Net opening may not exceed 18 inches in any dimension. When dipnetting through the ice, the size of the hole is unrestricted.
• When ice fishing for fish other than cisco, the size of the hole may not exceed 18 inches.
• Any angler who possesses a valid Utah or Idaho fishing or combination license may fish within both the Utah and Idaho boundaries of Bear Lake. An angler may fish with up to two poles on all areas of the Utah portion of Bear Lake that are open to fishing. Anglers must comply with Idaho regulations if they want to use more than one pole when fishing on the Idaho portion of Bear Lake.
• A person may not possess a multipoint hook with a weight permanently or rigidly attached directly to the shank—or a weight suspended below a multipoint hook—unless the hook is on an unweighted dropper line that is at least three inches long.

• CLOSED April 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Catch and release only and artificial flies and lures only (Jan. 1–April 14, and from 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July through Dec. 31).
• CLOSED April 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Catch and release only and artificial flies and lures only (Jan. 1–April 14, and from 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July through Dec. 31).

• Tributary to La Sal Creek.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• All cutthroat trout must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• Open to fishing, except where posted CLOSED.

• Limit 8 trout from Aug. 15–Dec. 31.

• Limit 10 yellow perch and 20 walleye (no size restrictions).

• Limit 1 fish over 15 inches.
• Bonus limit of 4 brown trout (total limit of no more than 8 trout if at least 4 are brown trout).

• No limit for pacu or tilapia. Anglers must not release any pacu or tilapia they catch. All pacu and tilapia must be immediately killed.
• See specific water restrictions for individual waters. Statewide regulations apply to those waters not specifically identified.
• Fishing from a boat with a motor is unlawful, except at Wide Hollow Reservoir, Pine Lake and Lower Bowns Reservoir.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• Fishing from a boat with a motor of any kind is prohibited.

• Limit 1 trout over 22 inches.
• All trout 22 inches or smaller must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon, and no more than 1 may be a lake trout over 22 inches.
• All lake trout under 22 inches must be immediately released.
• An angler may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler may check only their lines.

• CLOSED Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on the last Saturday of September.

• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.
• Species of threatened and endangered fish occur in the Colorado. If you catch one of these fish, you must release it immediately. See a list of [prohibited fish](https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/fishing-methods).
• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.

• Artificial flies and lures only.
• Limit 4 channel catfish.
• Limit 15 black crappie.
• Limit 4 channel catfish.

• Limit of 8 trout from Aug. 15–Dec. 31.
• No limit on black bullhead catfish. Anglers must not release any black bullhead catfish they catch. All black bullhead catfish must be immediately killed.

• Open to fishing on the first Saturday of May through Oct. 31 during daylight hours. (A gate will be closed and locked from dusk to dawn.)
• Facility CLOSED Nov. 1–Dec. 31 and Jan. 1–April 30.
• Fishing at Deseret Reservoir requires an onpost fishing permit. You can obtain one at the following locations: the Outdoor Recreation Shop (Building 1011, 435-833- 3100) or the TEAD Physical Fitness Center (Building 1002, [435-833-2159](tel:4358332159)).
• Shore fishing only.

• Limit 16 brook trout.

• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• Fishing from a boat or float tube is unlawful.

• Limit 2 tiger trout.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Limit 2 tiger trout.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• No limit for brook trout.

• CLOSED Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on the last Saturday of September.

• Limit 2 trout or salmon (a combined total, regardless of species).
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• All roundtail chub must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.
• No limit on yellow perch
• Limit 1 trout or salmon over 24 inches, regardless of species (goes toward the statewide trout limit).
• When ice fishing, the size of the hole may not exceed 18 inches.

• Excluding lake trout, a limit of 4 trout or kokanee salmon (a combined total); no more than 3 of these may be kokanee salmon.
• No limit for lake trout 28 inches or less; only 1 lake trout may exceed 28 inches.
• Anglers may use dead lake trout that are part of their daily bag limit as bait.
• Linwood Bay, west of a line from the easternmost point of the south shore of Linwood Bay (mouth of canyon) to easternmost point of the north shore of Linwood Bay (Lucerne Point), CLOSED to nighttime angling (sunset to sunrise) from Oct. 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of December.
• Limit 6 catfish.
• Limit 3 smallmouth and largemouth bass (a combined total).
• No limit for burbot. Anglers must not release any burbot they catch. All burbot must be immediately killed.
• Anglers may use dead burbot as bait.
• An angler may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler may check only their lines. (There is no restriction on ice hole size.)
• Anglers are only allowed one daily limit at Flaming Gorge.
• Chumming is allowed, but you may chum only with legal baits, dead burbot or lake trout, as specified in _Utah Admin. Rule R657-13-12_.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• All tributaries to Grandaddy Lake CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• No limit for smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any bass they catch. All bass must be immediately killed.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.
• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.
• Species of threatened and endangered fish occur in the Green River. If you catch one of these fish, you must release it immediately. See a list of [prohibited fish](https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/fishing-methods).
• Limit 3 trout (2 under 15 inches and 1 over 22 inches).
• All trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED to fishing from a boat with a motor between the Utah-Colorado state line and Flaming Gorge Dam.
• All roundtail chub must be immediately released.
• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.
• Limit 100 black crappie.
• No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed.
• Limit 6 largemouth bass of any size

• Limit 2 trout under 15 inches.
• All trout over 15 inches must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Limit 6 largemouth bass, only 1 may be over 12 inches.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• Limit 2 trout.
• Artificial flies only.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.

• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Anglers are encouraged to harvest tiger trout.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• Limit 6 bass, only 1 may be over 12 inches.

• Limit 1 trout over 18 inches (goes toward the statewide trout limit).

• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Limit 6 bass.

• Limit 2 trout (must be under 15 inches or over 22 inches).
• All trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only from Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday in May, and from the second Saturday in September through Dec. 31.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Limit 2 trout, only 1 may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches. To learn how to identify cutthroat trout in this water, see the description of Colorado River cutthroat trout.
• All cutthroat trout 22 inches or smaller must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED near the inlet stream, as posted for spring spawning operations.
• Limit 20 smallmouth bass.
• Limit 5 largemouth bass.
• Limit 10 crappie.
• Limit 25 channel catfish.
• No limit on striped bass.
• No limit on walleye.
• Fish may be filleted at any time.
• Anglers may possess filleted fish.
• Anglers may use dead striped bass as bait.
• Chumming is allowed, but you may chum only with legal baits or dead striped bass, as specified in _Utah Admin. Rule R657-13-12_.
• Gaffs may be used to land striped bass only.
• One-quarter mile of all existing developed areas, including shoreline campgrounds, docks, launch ramps, breakwaters and trailheads
• One-quarter mile of any structure, including any building, shed, pump-out, boat dock, breakwater, permanent harbor fixture, camper, motor home, trailer, tent or vehicle
• Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• One-quarter mile of Dangling Rope Marina, including any land- or harbor-based structures
• One hundred yards (300 feet) of any boats (unless the person owns, rents, leases or lawfully occupies the boat), or another boat moves into the 100-yard perimeter after the bow or spearfishing activity has commenced

• Fishing from a boat with a motor is unlawful.

• Limit 8 trout from Aug. 1–Oct. 31 (at all other times of the year, statewide trout limits apply).

• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• All cutthroat trout must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Fishing from a boat with a motor is unlawful.
• Limit 2 trout and whitefish (a combined total).
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• Limit 2 trout and whitefish (a combined total).
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• Catch and release only.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon (a combined total). Kokanee salmon of any size may be harvested as part of the limit.
• No more than 3 trout may be under 15 inches.
• No more than 1 trout may be over 22 inches.
• All trout between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Trout and salmon may not be filleted, and their heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• Limit 2 trout between 10 and 15 inches.
• All trout less than 10 inches or over 15 inches must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• All roundtail chub must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.
• Limit 1 trout over 22 inches.
• All trout 22 inches or smaller must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• Cement outlet channel between the dam and spillway pond, approximately 55 feet long, is CLOSED.

• Limits for all species are double the statewide [limits listed](https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/daily-limits).

• Limit 2 splake (goes toward the statewide trout limit).

• CLOSED TO FISHING.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.

• Limit 1 trout or Arctic grayling over 22 inches, regardless of species (goes toward the statewide trout limit).

• Limit 2 wiper.

• CLOSED to the possession of tiger muskie. All tiger muskie must be immediately released.
• Unlawful to use whole fish for bait. Cut baitfish must not be larger than one inch in any dimension and no more than one piece per hook.

• Limit 16 brook trout.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• Limit 4 trout (a combined total).
• No more than 2 may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches.
• All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Trout may not be filleted and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
• Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered to be a cutthroat trout.
• Limit 2 cutthroat or tiger trout (a combined total); no more than 2 may be under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches (goes toward the statewide trout limit). All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered to be a cutthroat trout.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• Limit 15 bluegill, only 5 may exceed 8 inches.
• Limit 50 bullhead.
• No limit for common carp. Anglers must not release any common carp they catch. All common carp must be immediately killed.
• An angler may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler may check only their lines.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.

• Fishing from a boat or float tube is unlawful.
• Limit 20 crappie.
• CLOSED to the possession of tiger muskie. All tiger muskie must be immediately released.
• Unlawful to use whole fish for bait. Cut baitfish must not be larger than one inch in any dimension and no more than one piece per hook.

• Artificial flies and lures only and catch-and-release only fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of Sept. through the third Saturday in May.
• At all other times of the year, there is a 2-fish limit

• Limit 12 trout and kokanee salmon, only 4 may be rainbow, cutthroat or brown trout (a combined total). To take 12 fish, you must possess at least 8 kokanee.
• See _East Fork Little Bear River_.
• Operating a boat above wakeless speed is prohibited.
• An angler may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler may check only their lines.
• All suckers must be immediately released.
• CLOSED to the possession of walleye from March 1 through 6 a.m. on the first Saturday of May.
• No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed.
• CLOSED to nighttime bowfishing (sunset to sunrise) from the first Saturday of May through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Limit 2 trout under 15 inches.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• Statewide regulations apply.
• Limit 2 trout under 15 inches.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• Limit 2 brown trout under 15 inches.
• CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat and rainbow trout and their hybrids. All cutthroat and rainbow trout and their hybrids must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• All suckers must be immediately released.
• CLOSED to the possession of walleye from March 1 through 6 a.m. on the first Saturday of May.
• No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed.
• CLOSED to nighttime bowfishing (sunset to sunrise) from the first Saturday of May through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed.
• Limit 6 largemouth bass of any size
• Upstream of entrance to Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area to the headwaters: CLOSED TO FISHING.

• Limit 50 bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch (a combined total) and no more than 20 of those fish may be black crappie.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• Limit 8 largemouth bass of any size.
• No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed.

• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.

• No limit for channel catfish.
• No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed.

• No limit on smallmouth bass.
• Limit 4 trout (a combined total).
• No more than 2 may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches.
• All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Trout may not be filleted, and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
• Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered to be a cutthroat trout.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• CLOSED Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on the last Saturday of November.

• Limit 2 trout, only 1 may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches.
• All cutthroat trout 22 inches or smaller must be immediately released.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED near the spawning trap and portions of the lake and canal, as posted during spring spawning operations.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1–Dec. 31.

• CLOSED to the possession of largemouth bass.
• Limit 10 bluegill, green sunfish and black crappie (a combined total).
• Limit 2 channel catfish.
• Limit 10 bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch (a combined total).

• Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon, and no more than 1 may be a lake trout over 22 inches.
• All lake trout under 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Bonus limit of 4 kokanee salmon (total limit of no more than 8 trout if at least 4 are kokanee salmon).
• Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon (a combined total).
• No more than 2 may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches.
• All cutthroat trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Trout and salmon may not be filleted, and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
• Anglers are encouraged to voluntarily release all cutthroat trout.
• Any trout with cutthroat characteristics (not necessarily jaw slashing) is considered to be a cutthroat trout.

• CLOSED TO FISHING YEAR ROUND.
• Catch and release only. (All fish must be immediately released. It is illegal to fish if you have any fish in possession.)
• Artificial flies and lures only. (The use or possession of bait while fishing is illegal.)
• CLOSED May 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Catch and release only. (All fish must be immediately released. It is illegal to fish if you have any fish in possession.)
• Artificial flies and lures only. (The use or possession of bait while fishing is illegal.)
• CLOSED May 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July, and from Sept. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of October.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• No overnight camping on Division land.

• Limit of 8 trout from Aug.15–Dec. 31.

• CLOSED TO FISHING.

• Limit 8 trout from Aug.15–Dec. 31.
• Artificial flies and lures only.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• Limit 6 largemouth or smallmouth bass (a combined total), only 1 may be over 12 inches.
• No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed.
• All suckers must be immediately released.

• All suckers must be immediately released.
• CLOSED to the possession of walleye from March 1 through 6 a.m. on the first Saturday of May.
• No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed.
• CLOSED to nighttime bowfishing (sunset to sunrise) from the first Saturday of May through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• No limit on smallmouth bass.
• Limit 2 trout.
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• All cutthroat trout—or trout with cutthroat markings—must be immediately released.
• Common carp are the only nongame fish allowed to be taken.
• Limit 2 cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings (included in statewide limit).
• Artificial flies and lures only.
• CLOSED May 15 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Limit 10 crappie.
• Limit 15 yellow perch.
• Limit 6 walleye, only 1 walleye may be over 24 inches.
• Possession and use of commercially sold and preserved gizzard shad is allowed. Otherwise, possession of gizzard shad, dead or alive, is unlawful.
• Limit 5 bluegill
• Limit 1 channel catfish
• Limit 1 largemouth bass

• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the second Saturday of July.
• Limits for all species except for tiger muskellunge are double the statewide [limits listed](https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/daily-limits).
• Limit 1 tiger muskellunge over 40 inches.
• All tiger muskellunge under 40 inches must be immediately released.
• Setline fishing is allowed.
• The daily limit is 2 fish. (Common carp do not count toward the daily limit.)
• Closed to the possession of tiger muskie. All tiger muskie must be immediately released. (For information on how to properly catch and release tiger muskie, [visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources tiger muskie page](https://wildlife.utah.gov/muskie).)
• Anglers are encouraged to voluntarily release all largemouth bass.
• Waters are open to fishing only when the community parks are open to the public.