2026 regulation year
Brown trout Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Salmo trutta
Last updated
Brown trout is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for brown trout across the 10 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026 — 4 set a defined harvest season and 6 keep it open year-round. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Brown trout regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Open year-round | 4 / day combined trout; 1 / day brown trout + 16 in min on listed Gold Medal TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches | 16 in min brown trout on listed Gold Medal TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most watersSlot: Gold Medal Waters reaches 1 / day brown trout + 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT; release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches |
| Maine | – · North Zone lakes & ponds – · South Zone lakes & ponds – · Rivers & streams (all methods) | 2 / day statewide (per-species, no combined trout aggregate) | 14 in min lakes & ponds; 6 in min, 25 in max rivers & streams |
| Montana | Open year-round | Part of the district combined-trout limit (brown + rainbow + golden + grayling, plus cutthroat in Central/Eastern): Western lakes 5 / day (only 1 over 22 in) + rivers 3 / day (only 1 over 14 in); Central lakes 5 + rivers 5 / day (only 1 over 18 in); Eastern lakes + rivers 5 / day. Beaverhead River browns 5 / day, all UNDER 18 in; Missouri below Holter Dam 3 / day, only 1 over 18 in and only 1 brown | No statewide minimum; Beaverhead River browns all must be under 18 in (max-size protection on big browns); 'only 1 over' large-fish caps on listed river reachesSlot: Beaverhead River: brown trout 5 / day, all must be under 18 in (releases protect trophy browns); Missouri River Holter Dam to Cascade Bridge: 3 trout / day, only 1 over 18 in and only 1 may be a brown |
| Nevada | Open year-round | 5 / day combined trout (Trout Stamp required); East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management | 14 in min on East Walker River NV-portion Quality Management; no statewide minimum elsewhereSlot: East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure-only on listed reaches |
| New Hampshire | – · Rivers + streams – · Trophy Stretch + Trophy Trout Ponds | 5 fish or 5 pounds (whichever first) combined trout (brook + brown + rainbow); 4-fish combined trout + salmon on designated salmon lakes | No minimum length (combined trout limit by number or weight); 18 in min Trophy Trout Ponds |
| New Mexico | Open year-round | 5 / day combined trout; 2 / day with 20 in min on San Juan Quality Waters + listed Special Trout Waters Trophy reaches | 20 in min on San Juan Quality Waters; no statewide minimum elsewhereSlot: San Juan Quality Waters 2 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required |
| Utah | Open year-round | 4 / day combined trout; 1 / day brown trout + 15 in min on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches (Middle + Lower Provo + Green River below Flaming Gorge Section B + C + listed reaches); NO daily bag limit on Willard Bay (UDWR-distinctive encouraged-harvest) | 15 in min brown trout on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most watersSlot: Middle Provo (Jordanelle Dam to Deer Creek) 15 in min + 1 / day brown trout; Lower Provo (Deer Creek Dam to Utah Lake) 15 in min + 1 / day brown trout; Green River below Flaming Gorge Section B + C 15 in min + 1 / day brown trout — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches |
| Vermont | – · Rivers + streams + general lakes/ponds — open harvest season – · Lakes + ponds — winter season – · Lake Champlain — open year-round | 8 / day combined trout (brook + brown + rainbow) rivers + streams; 6 / day lakes + ponds; 3 / day Lake Champlain | No statewide minimum on most waters; 12 in min Lake Champlain; special reaches carry 18 in min (White River) or 10-16 in protected slots (Mettawee) |
| Wisconsin | – · Inland streams, springs & spring ponds (harvest) – · Inland lakes & ponds (harvest) | 5 trout / day (brook + brown + rainbow combined); set per stream category | Length limits set per stream category — many streams allow brown trout of any length, others set a minimum; verify the water |
| Wyoming | Open year-round | 6 / day combined trout; 1 / day brown trout + 20 in min on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches (Grey Reef + Miracle Mile + listed reaches) | 20 in min brown trout on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most watersSlot: Grey Reef tailwater 20 in min + 1 / day brown trout; Miracle Mile 20 in min + 1 / day brown trout — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own brown trout rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide brown trout season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own brown trout rules. Across the 10 states covered here, 6 keep harvest open year-round while 4 define a closed season, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover brown trout in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish brown trout in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do brown trout rules vary so much between states?
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta) is a freshwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.
- Why does one state show more than one brown trout season?
- Several states split brown trout into management zones — different coasts, river drainages, or regions open and close on different dates. Where that happens the table shows each zone's window; the state page lists the full zone map.