When is lake trout (mackinaw) season in Wyoming?

Wyoming 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 Wyoming bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw)?

The Wyoming daily bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is 6 / day combined trout on most waters; NO daily bag limit on Yellowstone Lake + Lewis Lake (NPS suppression — mandatory harvest); no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (nongame reclassification Oct 2024 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; 6 / day Jackson Lake. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters; no possession limit on Yellowstone Lake (NPS suppression). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

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

Yes. Wyoming 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 Wyoming license — compare resident and non-resident Wyoming fees on the state regulations page below.

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

Yes. In Wyoming, 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; Federal NPS regulations supersede on YNP — must kill all lake trout caught inside YNP (mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program); NPS Yellowstone NP Fishing Permit required ($40 3-day / $55 7-day / $75 season); Conservation Stamp + Fishing License required ages 14+ ($21.50 res Conservation Stamp + $27 res annual fishing / $21.50 NR Conservation Stamp + $102 NR annual fishing); Confirm current-year WGFD Fishing Regulations + NPS YNP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.

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

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

2026 regulation year

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

Salvelinus namaycush

Last updated May 27, 2026

Wyoming lake trout (Mackinaw) fishery is anchored by Flaming Gorge Reservoir (country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery, WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside the Great Lakes Pacific salmon program lake trout fishery on Lake Superior + Lake Michigan + Lake Huron) + Yellowstone Lake (NPS-administered aggressive lake trout suppression program — ~400,000 lake trout removed annually via NPS contract gillnetting to protect the native Yellowstone cutthroat population — anglers fishing inside YNP must kill lake trout, no daily bag limit, mandatory harvest under NPS regulation) + Jackson Lake (Grand Teton NP — WGFD-administered aggressive lake trout suppression program to protect the native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat population). Flaming Gorge Reservoir lake trout produce 15-30 lb fish routinely on the spring + fall jigging patterns over the deep-water structure of the Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms — Flaming Gorge is administered under the WY/UT joint reciprocal compact (Sweetwater + Sublette + Uinta Counties WY + Daggett County UT — straddles the boundary). Yellowstone Lake (132 sq mi natural lake inside YNP at 7,732 ft elevation — country's largest natural lake above 7,000 ft) carries the NPS suppression program — lake trout were illegally introduced in 1994 and devastated the native Yellowstone cutthroat population (90 percent collapse); NPS contract gillnetting has begun stabilising the cutthroat population since 2018. Lewis Lake (Teton County WY — 2,716-acre natural lake inside YNP) carries trophy lake trout fishery + NPS suppression program. Jackson Lake (Grand Teton NP — Teton County — 25,540-acre natural lake) carries trophy lake trout alongside the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat suppression program. Wyoming lake trout (Mackinaw) populations on Flaming Gorge + Lewis + Jackson + listed Wind River Range high-altitude lakes are managed under WGFD + NPS conservation framework. Open year-round on most waters.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; YNP federal NPS overlay NO DAILY BAG LIMIT on Yellowstone Lake + Lewis Lake (mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program); 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).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined trout on most waters; NO daily bag limit on Yellowstone Lake + Lewis Lake (NPS suppression — mandatory harvest); no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (nongame reclassification Oct 2024 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; 6 / day Jackson Lake
Possession: 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters; no possession limit on Yellowstone Lake (NPS suppression)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum; Flaming Gorge: no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller, only 1 over 28 in in possession
Slot: Flaming Gorge Reservoir — no creel/possession limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 1 2024 WY / Jan 1 2025 UT to suppress the ~143,000 overpopulated small lake trout, protecting kokanee); only 1 lake trout over 28 in in possession — release additional fish over 28 in
Trophy rule: Flaming Gorge Reservoir country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery (WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside Great Lakes Superior + Michigan + Huron lake trout fishery); Flaming Gorge produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms; Yellowstone Lake NPS aggressive suppression program ~400,000 lake trout removed annually to protect native Yellowstone cutthroat population (illegally introduced 1994, cutthroat population collapsed 90% — NPS suppression stabilising cutthroat since 2018)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; deep-water jigging permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season
Federal NPS regulations supersede on YNP — must kill all lake trout caught inside YNP (mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program); NPS Yellowstone NP Fishing Permit required ($40 3-day / $55 7-day / $75 season)
Conservation Stamp + Fishing License required ages 14+ ($21.50 res Conservation Stamp + $27 res annual fishing / $21.50 NR Conservation Stamp + $102 NR annual fishing)
Confirm current-year WGFD Fishing Regulations + NPS YNP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Wyoming waters:

Flaming Gorge Reservoir
No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 2024 to suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee), only 1 over 28 in in possession; WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995; WY/UT joint reciprocal compact; 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns
Yellowstone Lake
NO DAILY BAG LIMIT — mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program (must kill all lake trout caught); NPS Yellowstone NP Fishing Permit required
Lewis Lake
NO DAILY BAG LIMIT — mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program; trophy lake trout fishery + NPS Yellowstone NP Fishing Permit required
Jackson Lake
6 / day no minimum; trophy lake trout alongside Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat suppression program; WGFD license valid (Grand Teton NP overlay does NOT supersede WGFD)
Wind River Range high-altitude alpine lakes
6 / day combined trout; native + introduced lake trout fishery alongside golden trout + brook trout

Official source

Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Wyomingfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Wyoming fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Lake trout (Mackinaw) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Wyoming Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Wyoming trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is lake trout (mackinaw) season in Wyoming?: Wyoming 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 Wyoming bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw)?: The Wyoming daily bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is 6 / day combined trout on most waters; NO daily bag limit on Yellowstone Lake + Lewis Lake (NPS suppression — mandatory harvest); no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller at Flaming Gorge (nongame reclassification Oct 2024 — suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; 6 / day Jackson Lake. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout on harvest waters; no possession limit on Yellowstone Lake (NPS suppression). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size lake trout (mackinaw) can you keep in Wyoming?: The Wyoming size rule for lake trout (mackinaw) is No statewide minimum; Flaming Gorge: no limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller, only 1 over 28 in in possession. Slot limit: Flaming Gorge Reservoir — no creel/possession limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 1 2024 WY / Jan 1 2025 UT to suppress the ~143,000 overpopulated small lake trout, protecting kokanee); only 1 lake trout over 28 in in possession — release additional fish over 28 in. Trophy rule: Flaming Gorge Reservoir country's premier inland trophy lake trout fishery (WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995 — one of largest inland US lake trout records outside Great Lakes Superior + Michigan + Huron lake trout fishery); Flaming Gorge produces 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns over deep-water Manila + Mustang Ridge + Buckboard arms; Yellowstone Lake NPS aggressive suppression program ~400,000 lake trout removed annually to protect native Yellowstone cutthroat population (illegally introduced 1994, cutthroat population collapsed 90% — NPS suppression stabilising cutthroat since 2018).
Do you need a license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw) in Wyoming?: Yes. Wyoming 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 Wyoming license — compare resident and non-resident Wyoming fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for lake trout (mackinaw) in Wyoming?: Yes. In Wyoming, 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; Federal NPS regulations supersede on YNP — must kill all lake trout caught inside YNP (mandatory harvest under NPS suppression program); NPS Yellowstone NP Fishing Permit required ($40 3-day / $55 7-day / $75 season); Conservation Stamp + Fishing License required ages 14+ ($21.50 res Conservation Stamp + $27 res annual fishing / $21.50 NR Conservation Stamp + $102 NR annual fishing); Confirm current-year WGFD Fishing Regulations + NPS YNP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Wyoming waters have different lake trout (mackinaw) rules?: Yes. 5 named Wyoming waters carry rules that override the statewide lake trout (mackinaw) regulation, including Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Yellowstone Lake, Lewis Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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