When is walleye season in Utah?

Utah keeps walleye 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 walleye?

The Utah daily bag limit for walleye is 10 / day, only 1 over 24 in (UDWR-distinctive — no minimum length encourages harvest of non-native walleye, but only 1 fish over 24 in / day protects trophy fish); 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in at Willard Bay; no limit at Lake Powell (encouraged-removal invasive — harvested fish may not be released). The possession limit is 20 (twice the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Utah?

Yes. Utah requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Utah?

Yes. In Utah, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; No minimum length, but only 1 walleye over 24 in / day statewide (UDWR trophy-protection cap); Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual); Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.

Do specific Utah waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 6 named Utah waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Willard Bay, Utah Lake, Starvation Reservoir, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Utah Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 27, 2026

Utah walleye fishery is anchored by Willard Bay (9,900-acre off-stream reservoir adjacent to Great Salt Lake — UDWR Arthur V. Watkins Dam built 1964 — Box Elder County — Utah's flagship walleye fishery) and the Wasatch + Uinta + Sevier reservoir tier — Utah Lake (96,600-acre natural lake — Utah's largest natural freshwater lake by surface area + country's largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi by surface area when full — Utah County) + Starvation Reservoir (3,310-acre Uinta River reservoir — Duchesne County — USBR Starvation Dam built 1970) + Yuba Reservoir (11,300-acre Sevier River reservoir — Juab + Sanpete + Sevier Counties — USBR Yuba Dam built 1907) + Deer Creek Reservoir (Provo River reservoir — Wasatch + Utah Counties) + Jordanelle Reservoir (Provo River — Wasatch County). Lake Powell (161,000-acre reservoir on the Colorado River — Garfield + San Juan + Kane Counties UT + Coconino County AZ — country's second-largest reservoir by volume) carries a secondary walleye + smallmouth + striped bass fishery under the joint UT/AZ compact. Willard Bay walleye runs in April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn produce 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually. The UDWR statewide walleye limit is 10 / day with only 1 fish over 24 in — no minimum length (encouraging harvest of non-native walleye) but a 1-over-24-in cap protecting trophy fish; Willard Bay is reduced to 6 / day (still only 1 over 24 in), and Lake Powell carries no walleye limit (managed as an encouraged-removal invasive — harvested fish may not be released). This contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI that ship 14-15 in minimum-length trophy-protection rules. UDWR stocks walleye fry + fingerlings annually at Willard Bay + Utah Lake + Starvation + Yuba + Deer Creek via Glenwood + Springville + Logan State Fish Hatcheries — but walleye are NOT actively promoted as a sportfish like in midwestern states; UDWR's walleye-management framework explicitly treats walleye as a tool for forage-control + biomass management of warmwater non-native baitfish (gizzard shad, white bass, yellow perch) populations on the major Wasatch + Uinta reservoirs. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn densest fishing window on Willard Bay + Utah Lake + Starvation + Yuba + Deer Creek + Jordanelle.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day, only 1 over 24 in (UDWR-distinctive — no minimum length encourages harvest of non-native walleye, but only 1 fish over 24 in / day protects trophy fish); 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in at Willard Bay; no limit at Lake Powell (encouraged-removal invasive — harvested fish may not be released)
Possession: 20 (twice the daily limit)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum length, but only 1 walleye over 24 in / day (UDWR caps trophy fish rather than setting a minimum — contrasts with traditional walleye states' 14-15 in min)
Trophy rule: Willard Bay Utah's flagship walleye fishery (9,900-acre off-stream reservoir adjacent to Great Salt Lake — UDWR Arthur V. Watkins Dam built 1964) — produces 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually; UDWR walleye limit is 10 / day with only 1 fish over 24 in — no minimum length (encouraging harvest of non-native walleye) but a 1-over-24-in cap protecting trophy fish (Willard Bay reduced to 6 / day, still only 1 over 24 in; Lake Powell no limit, harvested fish may not be released); contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI that ship 14-15 in minimum-length trophy protection; UDWR stocks walleye fry + fingerlings annually as forage-control tool for warmwater non-native baitfish populations on major Wasatch + Uinta reservoirs

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season
No minimum length, but only 1 walleye over 24 in / day statewide (UDWR trophy-protection cap)
Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual)
Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Utah waters:

Willard Bay
6 / day, only 1 over 24 in; 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually
Utah Lake
10 / day, only 1 over 24 in; June sucker ESA endangered species protection — must release any sucker caught
Starvation Reservoir
10 / day, only 1 over 24 in
Yuba Reservoir
10 / day, only 1 over 24 in
Deer Creek Reservoir
10 / day, only 1 over 24 in; walleye + smallmouth bass + channel catfish multi-species reservoir
Lake Powell
No limit on walleye (encouraged-removal non-native — harvested fish may not be released); UT/AZ joint reciprocal compact — follow the regulations of whichever state's license you fish under

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

Walleye 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 walleye season in Utah?: Utah keeps walleye 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 walleye?: The Utah daily bag limit for walleye is 10 / day, only 1 over 24 in (UDWR-distinctive — no minimum length encourages harvest of non-native walleye, but only 1 fish over 24 in / day protects trophy fish); 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in at Willard Bay; no limit at Lake Powell (encouraged-removal invasive — harvested fish may not be released). The possession limit is 20 (twice the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Utah?: The Utah size rule for walleye is No minimum length, but only 1 walleye over 24 in / day (UDWR caps trophy fish rather than setting a minimum — contrasts with traditional walleye states' 14-15 in min). Trophy rule: Willard Bay Utah's flagship walleye fishery (9,900-acre off-stream reservoir adjacent to Great Salt Lake — UDWR Arthur V. Watkins Dam built 1964) — produces 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually; UDWR walleye limit is 10 / day with only 1 fish over 24 in — no minimum length (encouraging harvest of non-native walleye) but a 1-over-24-in cap protecting trophy fish (Willard Bay reduced to 6 / day, still only 1 over 24 in; Lake Powell no limit, harvested fish may not be released); contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI that ship 14-15 in minimum-length trophy protection; UDWR stocks walleye fry + fingerlings annually as forage-control tool for warmwater non-native baitfish populations on major Wasatch + Uinta reservoirs.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Utah?: Yes. Utah requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Utah?: Yes. In Utah, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; No minimum length, but only 1 walleye over 24 in / day statewide (UDWR trophy-protection cap); Utah Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $90 NR annual); Confirm current-year UDWR Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Utah waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 6 named Utah waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Willard Bay, Utah Lake, Starvation Reservoir, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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