2026 regulation year
Cutthroat trout Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Oncorhynchus clarkii
Last updated
Cutthroat trout is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for cutthroat trout across the 7 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026 — 1 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.
Cutthroat trout regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Open year-round | 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed wild native cutthroat reaches (Greenback federally Threatened ESA + Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Species of Concern conservation reaches); 4 / day combined trout elsewhere | No statewide minimum; catch-and-release-only on listed conservation reaches |
| Idaho | Open year-round | 2 / day on Snake River drainage; 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe + listed wild-trout reaches (native cutthroat protection) | No statewide minimum; 18 in min on South Fork Snake + 20 in min on Henrys Lake + 22 in min on Bear Lake TROPHY MANAGEMENTSlot: South Fork Snake 18 in min + Henrys Lake 20 in min + Bear Lake 22 in min — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches |
| Montana | Open year-round | Western District: cutthroat is a separate category — 3 / day (lakes no size limit; rivers/streams none over 12 in). Central + Eastern District: cutthroat counted within the combined-trout limit (only 1 cutthroat per day on Central rivers). Catch-and-release on Flathead Lake, the upper Yellowstone, Swan, Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Big Hole and other listed native-cutthroat reaches | Western District rivers/streams none over 12 in; no minimum elsewhere; catch-and-release on listed wild-trout reaches |
| Nevada | – · Pyramid Lake (Paiute Tribal Permit required) – · Lake Tahoe + Walker Lake + listed LCT reintroduction reaches | Pyramid Lake Lahontan cutthroat 2 / day under-19-in slot + 1 / day 24-in+ Trophy bonus (releases all 19-24 in slot fish mandatory); Walker Lake + Lake Tahoe 0 / day catch-and-release-only Lahontan cutthroat (extirpated / reintroduction conservation reaches); 5 / day combined trout statewide on harvest waters | Pyramid Lake under-19-in slot + 24-in+ Trophy bonus; reach-specific quality + trophy regulations elsewhereSlot: Pyramid Lake 2 / day under-19-in slot + 1 / day 24-in+ Trophy bonus — release all 19-24 in slot fish mandatory + barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure-only required + no shore fishing 5 PM – 5 AM (October 1 – December 31) |
| New Mexico | Open year-round | 0 / day catch-and-release-only Rio Grande cutthroat + Gila trout on listed conservation reaches; 5 / day combined trout on harvest waters | No statewide minimum; catch-and-release-only on listed conservation reaches |
| Utah | Open year-round | 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed UDWR-managed Bonneville cutthroat conservation populations; 1 / day Bear Lake (joint ID/UT 22 in min TROPHY) + Strawberry (22 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT); 4 / day combined trout elsewhere | 22 in min Strawberry + Bear Lake endemic cutthroat TROPHY MANAGEMENT; no statewide minimum elsewhereSlot: Strawberry Reservoir 22 in min + 1 / day Bonneville cutthroat — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reach; Bear Lake 22 in min + 1 / day joint ID/UT compact |
| Wyoming | Open year-round | 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed wild native cutthroat reaches (YNP + Yellowstone Lake + Snake + South Fork + Hoback + Greys + Salt + Wind River Range Colorado River cutthroat); 6 / day combined trout elsewhere | No statewide minimum; catch-and-release-only on listed reaches |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own cutthroat 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 cutthroat trout season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own cutthroat trout rules. Across the 7 states covered here, 6 keep harvest open year-round while 1 defines 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 cutthroat 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 cutthroat 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 cutthroat trout rules vary so much between states?
- Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) 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 cutthroat trout season?
- Several states split cutthroat 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.