When is rainbow trout season in Wyoming?

Wyoming keeps rainbow trout 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 rainbow trout?

The Wyoming daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 6 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + golden + lake + tiger); 1 / day rainbow trout + 20 in min on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches (Grey Reef + Miracle Mile). The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size rainbow trout can you keep in Wyoming?

The Wyoming size rule for rainbow trout is 18 in min on listed Quality Management reaches; 20 in min on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most waters. Trophy rule: Grey Reef tailwater 12-mile blue-ribbon reach below Grey Reef Dam — country's premier trophy wild rainbow + brown trout tailwater (8-10 lb fish landed annually); Miracle Mile 5.5-mile blue-ribbon reach between Kortes Dam tailwater and Pathfinder Reservoir — country's most concentrated wild trout reach (~12,000 catchable trout per mile during runoff); WGFD stocks ~5 million trout annually statewide via Story + Wigwam + Boulder + Auburn + Daniel + Speas + Tillett Springs Fish Hatcheries — one of the most extensive hatchery systems in the West.

Do you need a license to fish for rainbow trout in Wyoming?

Yes. Wyoming requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow trout, 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 rainbow trout in Wyoming?

Yes. In Wyoming, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed quality-management reaches; Live bait prohibited on most blue-ribbon trout streams; artificial-lures-only or fly-only on listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on listed catch-and-release reaches; 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 for District-by-District Quality Management reach + season list.

Do specific Wyoming waters have different rainbow trout rules?

Yes. 5 named Wyoming waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Grey Reef tailwater, Miracle Mile, Bighorn tailwater, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Wyoming Rainbow trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated May 27, 2026

Wyoming rainbow trout fishery is anchored by the North Platte River tailwater system (Grey Reef + Miracle Mile + Fremont Canyon + Trapper's Route — country's premier trophy wild rainbow + brown trout tailwater system) and supplemented by hatchery-stocked still-water fisheries throughout the state. The Grey Reef tailwater (12-mile blue-ribbon reach below Grey Reef Dam from the dam at Alcova WY downstream through Government Bridge + Trapper's Route — Natrona County) produces 8-10 lb wild rainbow + brown trout fish landed annually on the spring + fall streamer + nymph patterns. The Miracle Mile (5.5-mile blue-ribbon reach between Kortes Dam tailwater and Pathfinder Reservoir — Carbon County) carries ~12,000 catchable trout per mile during runoff — country's densest concentration of wild rainbow + brown + Snake River cutthroat outside the Bighorn MT tailwater. The Bighorn Lake tailwater on the WY-portion of the Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam carries the wild rainbow + brown trout tailwater fishery alongside the MT-portion. Flaming Gorge Reservoir + Fontenelle Reservoir + Boysen Reservoir + Glendo + Seminoe + Pathfinder + Keyhole carry hatchery-supported rainbow trout still-water fisheries. WGFD stocks ~5 million trout annually statewide via Story Fish Hatchery + Wigwam Fish Hatchery + Boulder Fish Hatchery + Auburn Fish Hatchery + Daniel Fish Hatchery + Speas Fish Hatchery + Tillett Springs Fish Hatchery — one of the most extensive hatchery systems in the West. WGFD-managed Quality Management reaches on Grey Reef + Miracle Mile + listed North Platte tailwater reaches carry 18 in min slot + 1 / day rainbow trout TROPHY MANAGEMENT. Open year-round on most waters; quality-management waters carry seasonal closures + harvest restrictions.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; quality-management waters carry seasonal closures; Grey Reef + Miracle Mile + Bighorn + Boysen + Flaming Gorge tailwater wild-trout reaches managed under WGFD Quality Management regulation.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + golden + lake + tiger); 1 / day rainbow trout + 20 in min on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches (Grey Reef + Miracle Mile)
Possession: 12 in possession combined trout

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 18 in min on listed Quality Management reaches; 20 in min on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most waters
Trophy rule: Grey Reef tailwater 12-mile blue-ribbon reach below Grey Reef Dam — country's premier trophy wild rainbow + brown trout tailwater (8-10 lb fish landed annually); Miracle Mile 5.5-mile blue-ribbon reach between Kortes Dam tailwater and Pathfinder Reservoir — country's most concentrated wild trout reach (~12,000 catchable trout per mile during runoff); WGFD stocks ~5 million trout annually statewide via Story + Wigwam + Boulder + Auburn + Daniel + Speas + Tillett Springs Fish Hatcheries — one of the most extensive hatchery systems in the West

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed quality-management reaches
Live bait prohibited on most blue-ribbon trout streams; artificial-lures-only or fly-only on listed reaches
Barbless single hook required on listed catch-and-release reaches
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 for District-by-District Quality Management reach + season list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Wyoming waters:

Grey Reef tailwater on the North Platte River
Trout 6 / day combined; rainbow trout 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT; brown trout 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT — 8-10 lb fish landed annually
Miracle Mile
Trout 6 / day combined; 18 in min on listed reaches — ~12,000 catchable trout per mile during runoff
Bighorn Lake tailwater on the Bighorn River
Trout 6 / day combined; MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Boysen Reservoir
Trout 6 / day combined; hatchery-supported rainbow trout still-water fishery

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

Rainbow trout 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 rainbow trout season in Wyoming?: Wyoming keeps rainbow trout 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 rainbow trout?: The Wyoming daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 6 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + golden + lake + tiger); 1 / day rainbow trout + 20 in min on listed TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches (Grey Reef + Miracle Mile). The possession limit is 12 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size rainbow trout can you keep in Wyoming?: The Wyoming size rule for rainbow trout is 18 in min on listed Quality Management reaches; 20 in min on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; no statewide minimum on most waters. Trophy rule: Grey Reef tailwater 12-mile blue-ribbon reach below Grey Reef Dam — country's premier trophy wild rainbow + brown trout tailwater (8-10 lb fish landed annually); Miracle Mile 5.5-mile blue-ribbon reach between Kortes Dam tailwater and Pathfinder Reservoir — country's most concentrated wild trout reach (~12,000 catchable trout per mile during runoff); WGFD stocks ~5 million trout annually statewide via Story + Wigwam + Boulder + Auburn + Daniel + Speas + Tillett Springs Fish Hatcheries — one of the most extensive hatchery systems in the West.
Do you need a license to fish for rainbow trout in Wyoming?: Yes. Wyoming requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow trout, 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 rainbow trout in Wyoming?: Yes. In Wyoming, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed quality-management reaches; Live bait prohibited on most blue-ribbon trout streams; artificial-lures-only or fly-only on listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on listed catch-and-release reaches; 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 for District-by-District Quality Management reach + season list.
Do specific Wyoming waters have different rainbow trout rules?: Yes. 5 named Wyoming waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Grey Reef tailwater, Miracle Mile, Bighorn tailwater, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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