When is lake trout (mackinaw) season in Utah?

Utah keeps lake trout (mackinaw) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Utah bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw)?

The Utah daily bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (reclassified nongame Jan 2025 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession (joint UT/WY compact); 4 / day Fish Lake with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); 4 / day Strawberry + Bear Lake no min. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size lake trout (mackinaw) can you keep in Utah?

The Utah size rule for lake trout (mackinaw) is Flaming Gorge: no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller, only 1 over 28 in in possession; Fish Lake mandatory harvest under 22 in (suppression rule); no statewide minimum elsewhere. Slot limit: Flaming Gorge Reservoir — no creel/possession limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Jan 1 2025 UT / Oct 1 2024 WY to suppress the overpopulated small lake trout, protecting kokanee); only 1 lake trout over 28 in in possession — release additional fish over 28 in; Fish Lake 4 / day mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — must kill smaller fish to promote 28+ in trophy fishery). Trophy rule: Flaming Gorge Reservoir country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery (UT state-record lake trout 51 lb 8 oz Flaming Gorge 1988 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside Great Lakes lake trout fishery — historically world-record-class lake trout fishery); Flaming Gorge produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms; Fish Lake UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in promotes 28+ in trophy fishery (one of country's only inland-Mackinaw suppression-management programs that explicitly promotes trophy Mackinaw alongside the Yellowstone Lake NPS suppression program).

Do you need a license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw) in Utah?

Yes. Utah requires a valid fishing license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Utah license — compare resident and non-resident Utah fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for lake trout (mackinaw) in Utah?

Yes. In Utah, lake trout (mackinaw) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; deep-water jigging permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; Mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in on Fish Lake (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression rule); Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual); Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations + WY/UT joint Flaming Gorge regulation for reach-specific exceptions.

Do specific Utah waters have different lake trout (mackinaw) rules?

Yes. 5 named Utah waters carry rules that override the statewide lake trout (mackinaw) regulation, including Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Fish Lake, Strawberry Reservoir, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Utah Lake trout (Mackinaw) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Salvelinus namaycush

Last updated May 27, 2026

Utah lake trout (Mackinaw) fishery is anchored by Flaming Gorge Reservoir (UT state-record lake trout 51 lb 8 oz Flaming Gorge 1988 — one of the largest inland US lake trout records outside the Great Lakes Pacific salmon program lake trout fishery on Lake Superior + Lake Michigan + Lake Huron + the Heart Lakes of Yellowstone NP — historically world-record-class lake trout fishery) + Fish Lake (Sevier County — UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program promoting 28+ in trophy fishery) + Strawberry Reservoir (UDWR-managed Mackinaw alongside Bonneville cutthroat + kokanee). Flaming Gorge Reservoir straddles the WY/UT boundary under joint reciprocal compact + produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on the spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water structure of the Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms — Flaming Gorge is administered under the WY/UT joint reciprocal compact (Daggett County UT + Sweetwater + Sublette + Uinta Counties WY). Fish Lake (2,500-acre natural lake in the Fish Lake National Forest — country's premier inland 18-22 in lake trout fishery + UDWR Mackinaw suppression program) carries a UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in to promote the 28+ in trophy fishery (one of country's only inland-Mackinaw suppression-management programs that explicitly promotes trophy Mackinaw). Bear Lake carries the joint ID/UT Mackinaw fishery (4 / day no min). Wyoming-managed Lewis + Yellowstone Lake NPS-administered Mackinaw suppression program (must kill all lake trout — NO daily bag limit) does NOT apply on the UT side, but anglers fishing inside Yellowstone NP must comply with NPS suppression rules. Utah lake trout (Mackinaw) populations on Flaming Gorge + Fish Lake + Strawberry + Bear Lake are managed under UDWR + USFWS conservation framework. Open year-round on most waters.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; Flaming Gorge no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller with only 1 over 28 in in possession under the WY/UT joint compact (nongame reclassification); Fish Lake mandatory-harvest under-22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression program for 28+ in trophy fishery).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (reclassified nongame Jan 2025 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession (joint UT/WY compact); 4 / day Fish Lake with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); 4 / day Strawberry + Bear Lake no min
Possession: 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: Flaming Gorge: no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller, only 1 over 28 in in possession; Fish Lake mandatory harvest under 22 in (suppression rule); no statewide minimum elsewhere
Slot: Flaming Gorge Reservoir — no creel/possession limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Jan 1 2025 UT / Oct 1 2024 WY to suppress the overpopulated small lake trout, protecting kokanee); only 1 lake trout over 28 in in possession — release additional fish over 28 in; Fish Lake 4 / day mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — must kill smaller fish to promote 28+ in trophy fishery)
Trophy rule: Flaming Gorge Reservoir country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery (UT state-record lake trout 51 lb 8 oz Flaming Gorge 1988 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside Great Lakes lake trout fishery — historically world-record-class lake trout fishery); Flaming Gorge produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms; Fish Lake UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in promotes 28+ in trophy fishery (one of country's only inland-Mackinaw suppression-management programs that explicitly promotes trophy Mackinaw alongside the Yellowstone Lake NPS suppression program)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; deep-water jigging permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season
Mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in on Fish Lake (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression rule)
Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual)
Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations + WY/UT joint Flaming Gorge regulation for reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Utah waters:

Flaming Gorge Reservoir
No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Jan 2025 to suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee), only 1 over 28 in in possession; UT state-record lake trout 51 lb 8 oz Flaming Gorge 1988; WY/UT joint reciprocal compact; 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns
Fish Lake
4 / day with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery)
Strawberry Reservoir
4 / day no min; trophy lake trout alongside Bonneville cutthroat + kokanee salmon
Bear Lake
4 / day no min; Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact
Causey Reservoir
Lake trout 1 / day no min; trophy lake trout alongside kokanee broodstock fishery

Official source

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) publishes the authoritative 2026 Utahfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Utah fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Lake trout (Mackinaw) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Utah trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is lake trout (mackinaw) season in Utah?: Utah keeps lake trout (mackinaw) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Utah bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw)?: The Utah daily bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (reclassified nongame Jan 2025 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession (joint UT/WY compact); 4 / day Fish Lake with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); 4 / day Strawberry + Bear Lake no min. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size lake trout (mackinaw) can you keep in Utah?: The Utah size rule for lake trout (mackinaw) is Flaming Gorge: no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller, only 1 over 28 in in possession; Fish Lake mandatory harvest under 22 in (suppression rule); no statewide minimum elsewhere. Slot limit: Flaming Gorge Reservoir — no creel/possession limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Jan 1 2025 UT / Oct 1 2024 WY to suppress the overpopulated small lake trout, protecting kokanee); only 1 lake trout over 28 in in possession — release additional fish over 28 in; Fish Lake 4 / day mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression — must kill smaller fish to promote 28+ in trophy fishery). Trophy rule: Flaming Gorge Reservoir country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery (UT state-record lake trout 51 lb 8 oz Flaming Gorge 1988 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside Great Lakes lake trout fishery — historically world-record-class lake trout fishery); Flaming Gorge produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms; Fish Lake UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in promotes 28+ in trophy fishery (one of country's only inland-Mackinaw suppression-management programs that explicitly promotes trophy Mackinaw alongside the Yellowstone Lake NPS suppression program).
Do you need a license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw) in Utah?: Yes. Utah requires a valid fishing license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Utah license — compare resident and non-resident Utah fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for lake trout (mackinaw) in Utah?: Yes. In Utah, lake trout (mackinaw) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; deep-water jigging permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; Mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in on Fish Lake (UDWR small-Mackinaw suppression rule); Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual); Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations + WY/UT joint Flaming Gorge regulation for reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Utah waters have different lake trout (mackinaw) rules?: Yes. 5 named Utah waters carry rules that override the statewide lake trout (mackinaw) regulation, including Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Fish Lake, Strawberry Reservoir, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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