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fishregs

2026 regulation year

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Fishing License 2026

Last updated

MontanaWyoming

Bighorn Canyon NRA runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.

Quick answer

State fishing license applies

A state fishing licence is required — Montana licence for the northern (MT) end of Bighorn Lake, Wyoming licence for the southern (WY) end. No NPS permit, and the two states do NOT have a Bighorn-specific reciprocity — verify which side of the state line your boat is on before casting.

What to know before you fish Bighorn Canyon NRA

  • Bighorn Lake (the Yellowtail Dam impoundment) straddles the MT/WY border inside the NRA; the state line cuts across open water with no signage, so a multi-state licence pair is common for through-boating anglers.
  • The southern reach of the lake also crosses Crow Indian Reservation land — on tribal water, neither state licence is valid; a Crow Tribe fishing permit takes over (see the Crow Reservation entry).
  • Walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and brown trout are the primary lake fisheries; the Bighorn River BELOW Yellowtail Dam (MT side, outside the NRA) is one of the premier blue-ribbon trout tailwaters in the US.
  • Boat launches operate at Horseshoe Bend (WY), Barry's Landing (MT), and Ok-A-Beh (MT) — confirm season-pass / day-use fees with the NPS unit before arrival.

How licensing works at Bighorn Canyon NRA

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area runs on the host state's regular fishing license — there is no separate National Park Service fishing permit to buy. Use the same Montana / Wyoming license you would use anywhere else in the state. Park-specific regulations (gear restrictions, species closures, catch-and-release zones) still layer on top of the state rule, so read the unit's current fishing page before launching.

Compare what the Montana / Wyoming license costs on the non-resident fee table, or open the full Montana regulations / Wyoming regulations.

Official source

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area publishes its authoritative 2026 fishing rules on the page below. Regulations change annually — verify the current year before you fish.

nps.gov →

Emergency-order & closure feed

On federal land, in-season closures don't go through the host state's DFW — they post to the unit's own news desk. Road closures that cut off river access, wildfire trailhead shutdowns, drought-driven access changes, and bear-activity lake closures all publish to Bighorn Canyon NRA's National Park Service news feed. Subscribe before any long-haul trip.

Bighorn Canyon NRA — National Park Service news releases

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Bighorn Canyon NRA fishing license — FAQ

Do you need a fishing license to fish Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area?
Bighorn Canyon NRA runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.
Who issues the fishing license for Bighorn Canyon NRA?
The host state's fish & wildlife agency issues the controlling fishing license for Bighorn Canyon NRA — the Montana / Wyoming license. There is no federal fishing permit to buy here.
Is your Montana / Wyoming fishing license valid in Bighorn Canyon NRA?
Yes — Bighorn Canyon NRA runs on the Montana / Wyoming fishing license. The same license you use elsewhere in those states covers the unit's waters, subject to any unit-specific regulation that layers on top.
Where are Bighorn Canyon NRA fishing closures posted?
In-season closures inside Bighorn Canyon NRA are published to the unit's National Park Service news feed (RSS), not the host state's emergency-order page. Subscribe to the feed on this page to catch road, wildfire, drought, and access closures before a trip.

Related federal & tribal waters

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