2026 regulation year
Fishing Regulations by Water Body 2026— Per-Lake & Per-River Rules
Last updated
Statewide fishing rules are not the whole story. 182 named US waters across 11 states publish slot limits, bag overrides, tournament-release mandates, gear restrictions, or reciprocity arrangements that override (or layer on top of) the statewide rule. Find your lake, river, bay, or reservoir below and read the controlling special regulation before launching.
For statewide rules in plain language see the state directory; for federal parks and tribal carve-outs see federal & tribal waters.
Alaska AK
Alaska statewide rules →Area 2C (Southeast Alaska)
Charter reverse-slot 40 in or 80 in+; unguided 2 / day
1 rule on file
Area 3A (Southcentral / Kodiak / Cook Inlet)
Charter slot rules; unguided 2 / day
1 rule on file
Bristol Bay drainages
World-class sockeye + rainbow trout; many waters single-hook C&R only
1 rule on file
Brooks River (Katmai)
NPS rule + ADF&G; single barbless hook; size limit
1 rule on file
Chena River
Statewide 5 / day on lower river; trophy reach above Two-Rivers C&R
1 rule on file
Copper River
Drainage-specific bag and size; runs vary year-to-year
1 rule on file
Delta Clearwater River
Trophy water: C&R only
1 rule on file
Goodpaster River
Trophy water: C&R only; single barbless hook
1 rule on file
Gulkana River
Statewide 5 / day; popular Glennallen-area water
1 rule on file
Kasilof River
Statewide 6 / day; consistent fall run
1 rule on file
Kenai River (upper)
King salmon: emergency closures common; size + catch-and-release rules in season
4 rules on file
Kodiak Island streams
Steelhead C&R only; trophy management
1 rule on file
Kuskokwim River
Closed or severely restricted; subsistence priority
1 rule on file
Kvichak River
Bristol Bay trophy water; C&R only on big rainbows
1 rule on file
Naknek River
Trophy management; single hook; size limits
1 rule on file
Resurrection Bay (Seward)
Saltwater feeder coho; bag varies by area
2 rules on file
Russian River
Sockeye salmon: special bag + gear (single barbless hook, fly-fishing zones)
1 rule on file
Sitka Sound
Saltwater feeder coho; Southeast bag rules apply
2 rules on file
Susitna drainage
River-by-river emergency-order management
2 rules on file
Talarik Creek
Trophy water; barbless single hook
1 rule on file
Yukon River
King salmon harvest closed or severely restricted in recent years
2 rules on file
Arkansas AR
Arkansas statewide rules →Arkansas River (navigation pools)
Statewide rule; pool-by-pool boat-access
2 rules on file
Beaver Lake
Reservoir: 12 in min; 4 / day
2 rules on file
Beaver Tailwater (below Beaver Dam)
Cold-water releases; trout permit required
1 rule on file
Buffalo National River
NPS water: 14 in min; 4 / day; catch-and-release in some reaches
1 rule on file
Crooked Creek
Special blue-ribbon smallmouth water: 14 in min
1 rule on file
DeGray Lake
Statewide 12 in min; 6 / day; spotted bass also present
1 rule on file
Greers Ferry Lake
Largemouth: 14–18 in slot, 1 over 18 in; trophy walleye fishery
3 rules on file
Kings River
Ozark stream: 14 in min; 4 / day
1 rule on file
Lake Conway
Statewide rule; classic timber-lake crappie fishery
1 rule on file
Lake Hamilton
Statewide 12 in min; 6 / day; reservoir fishery
2 rules on file
Lake Maumelle
Statewide rule; Little Rock metro reservoir
1 rule on file
Lake Ouachita
Largemouth: 12–16 in slot, 1 over 16 in; striped bass: 4 / day
3 rules on file
Little Red River (below Greers Ferry)
Trout permit required; world-record brown trout water
2 rules on file
Mulberry River
Ozark stream: 14 in min; spring float-fishing destination
1 rule on file
Norfork Tailwater
Trout permit required; slot + size rules on brown trout
2 rules on file
Spring River
Stocked rainbows; statewide 5 / day; permit required
1 rule on file
White River (below Bull Shoals)
Trout permit required; brown trout 16 in min; catch-and-release sections marked
3 rules on file
California CA
California statewide rules →American River
Catch-and-release on most reaches when run is small
1 rule on file
California Delta
Statewide rule; striper + bass combined trip enforcement
2 rules on file
Castaic Lake
Historic trophy water; standard 12 in / 5 fish applies
1 rule on file
Clear Lake
Statewide 12 in / 5 fish rule; tournament release strongly encouraged
1 rule on file
Crowley Lake
Stocked rainbows + Sacramento perch — annual special opener
1 rule on file
Diamond Valley Lake
Permit + boat-launch rules layer on top of state regs
1 rule on file
Fall River (Shasta County)
Drift-boat-only sections; artificial lures, barbless
1 rule on file
Half Moon Bay
North-of-Point-Sur 3 / day applies
1 rule on file
Hot Creek (Mono County)
Wild-trout water: artificial lures, barbless, catch-and-release only
2 rules on file
Klamath River
Salmon emergency closures common — check CDFW in-season alerts
2 rules on file
Lake Castaic
Land-locked striper; statewide 18 in / 2 fish
1 rule on file
Lake Pyramid
Land-locked striper; trolling popular, statewide rule
1 rule on file
Lake Tahoe
Trout season July 1 – Sep 30 above 8,000 ft + special slot for lake trout
2 rules on file
Monterey Bay
Bag transitions at Point Sur — verify zone before retaining
1 rule on file
Sacramento River (upper)
Fall king run zoned; single barbless required Aug 1 – Dec 16 in most sections
1 rule on file
San Francisco Bay
Striped bass / halibut: report-card requirements
3 rules on file
Santa Monica Bay
South-of-Point-Sur 5 / day applies
1 rule on file
Trinity River
Tribal + state co-management; quota-based closures possible mid-season
1 rule on file
Upper Sacramento River
Special slot, barbless single hook in catch-and-release sections
1 rule on file
Florida FL
Florida statewide rules →Apalachicola Bay (NW zone)
Closed shellfish harvest; redfish zone special rules
3 rules on file
Boca Grande Pass
Tarpon: hook-and-line only (no snatch-hooking); no breakaway weights
3 rules on file
Charlotte Harbor
Slot enforced; recovery still in progress post-red-tide
1 rule on file
Florida Bay (Everglades NP)
Park-specific rules layer on top of state slot
1 rule on file
Florida Keys backcountry
Catch-and-release with leader-touch rule; tag rule for harvest
1 rule on file
Homosassa flats
Catch-and-release; world-record pursuit territory historically
1 rule on file
Indian River Lagoon (NE zone)
Catch-and-release only
3 rules on file
Lake Okeechobee
Standard 5-bass / 1-over-16 in rule; cormorant + tournament rules apply
2 rules on file
Lake Toho (Kissimmee chain)
Statewide rule; spring spawning hot-spot
1 rule on file
Mosquito Lagoon (Indian River system)
Redfish + seatrout: catch-and-release only in NE zone
3 rules on file
Rodman Reservoir
Trophy reservoir; standard 5 / 1-over-16 in applies
1 rule on file
Sebastian Inlet
Atlantic-zone rule applies; heavy seasonal pressure
1 rule on file
Stick Marsh (Farm 13)
Trophy reservoir; statewide rule plus tournament restrictions
1 rule on file
Tampa Bay
Standard 3 / day, slot enforced
1 rule on file
Tampa Bay system
Gulf-zone rule applies; size and slot enforced at point of landing
1 rule on file
Michigan MI
Michigan statewide rules →Au Sable River — Mason Tract
Flies-only, 15 in trout minimum, no-kill stretch
1 rule on file
Big Manistee
Type-1 stream rules + Great Lakes connection; verify reach
1 rule on file
Detroit River (border with ON)
Reciprocal licence required to cross; walleye special seasons
2 rules on file
Grand Traverse Bay (Lake Michigan)
Statewide rule; deep-water smallmouth fishery
2 rules on file
Lake Erie (MI waters)
Year-round; 5 / day; 15 in minimum statewide
1 rule on file
Lake Huron (refuge zones)
Lake-trout rehabilitation refuges with reduced bag
1 rule on file
Lake Michigan (Michigan waters)
Year-round; 5 / day combined salmon; trolling-rig friendly
2 rules on file
Lake St. Clair
Statewide 14 in / 5 fish; trophy smallmouth water
1 rule on file
Lake Superior (MI waters)
Zone-based bag and slot; verify zone before retaining
1 rule on file
Les Cheneaux Islands
Statewide rule; protected bays produce trophy smallmouth
1 rule on file
Manistee River below Tippy Dam
Fall salmon hot-spot, snagging prohibited, single-hook artificial only
3 rules on file
Muskegon Lake
Inland regs: closed mid-March to opener; 15 in / 5 fish
1 rule on file
Pere Marquette River (M-37 to Gleason's Landing)
Flies-only artificial-only zone (M-37 to Gleason's Landing)
3 rules on file
Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron)
13 in minimum; 5 / day; one of the great walleye fisheries in North America
1 rule on file
St. Joseph River
Lake Michigan tributary; steelhead + chinook run
2 rules on file
St. Marys River
Statewide rule; Soo-area trophy fishery
1 rule on file
Minnesota MN
Minnesota statewide rules →Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness regs: no live bait restrictions, lead-tackle ban on some lakes
2 rules on file
Cass Lake
Central-zone slot; 22–26 in protected
2 rules on file
Lake Mille Lacs
Walleye: special slot + reduced bag, in-season closures by DNR
2 rules on file
Lake of the Woods
Walleye: combined bag with sauger; ON border-rule applies
4 rules on file
Lake Superior (MN waters)
Year-round; zone-based 3 / day, slot enforced near North Shore
1 rule on file
Lake Vermilion
Central-zone slot; 22–26 in protected
3 rules on file
Leech Lake
Statewide slot; tribal co-management may adjust in-season
2 rules on file
Mille Lacs
Central-zone slot applies alongside walleye special regs
2 rules on file
Mississippi River (upper)
Statewide rule; smallmouth fishery growing strong
1 rule on file
Rainy Lake
Border water with ON; reciprocal licence required to cross line
1 rule on file
Rainy Lake / Namakan
Border water with ON: reciprocal licence required for crossing
1 rule on file
Red Lake
Tribal + state co-management; slot and bag set annually
1 rule on file
Saganaga Lake (BWCAW)
Wilderness rules + statewide season; popular ice-out destination
1 rule on file
Seagull Lake (BWCAW)
Wilderness regs; live bait restrictions on some trout lakes
1 rule on file
Trout Lake (Cook County)
Statewide 2 / day; spring opener heavily fished
1 rule on file
New York NY
New York statewide rules →Adirondack heritage waters
Brook trout: artificial-only / barbless on listed ponds
1 rule on file
Beaver River (Stillwater Res.)
Wild brook trout; statewide rule
1 rule on file
Catskill streams (Schoharie etc.)
Wild-trout sections: catch-and-release in marked reaches
1 rule on file
Cayuga Lake (Finger Lakes)
Statewide rule; 12 in min; deep-water summer fishery
1 rule on file
Chautauqua Lake
15 in min; classic Western NY walleye water
1 rule on file
Cross River Reservoir
NYC watershed; access permit required; statewide rule
1 rule on file
Croton system reservoirs
NYC watershed; access permit required
1 rule on file
Honnedaga Lake
Heritage strain; restricted-access via permit
1 rule on file
Hudson River (Tappan Zee to Troy)
Striped bass slot 18–28 in; 1 / day Apr 1 – Nov 30
2 rules on file
Jamaica Bay
Marine slot; urban estuary fishery
1 rule on file
Lake Champlain (NY waters)
VT boundary; reciprocal licence; 10 in min on VT side
2 rules on file
Lake Erie (NY waters)
Smallmouth + walleye special slots; PA boundary reciprocity
3 rules on file
Lake Ontario
Salmon + trout: separate regs booklet; chinook 3 / day in season
1 rule on file
Long Island Sound
Marine slot 28–31 in; 1 / day; Apr 15 – Dec 15
1 rule on file
Lows Lake (Adirondacks)
Heritage water: artificial-only, barbless
1 rule on file
Montauk Point
Marine slot; fall blitz heavily fished
1 rule on file
Oneida Lake
Statewide rule; classic largemouth + walleye lake
2 rules on file
St. Lawrence River
Boundary water with ON: reciprocal licence rules apply
2 rules on file
North Carolina NC
North Carolina statewide rules →Albemarle Sound
Coastal slot; tied to Roanoke run management
1 rule on file
Bogue Sound
Slot 18–27 in; popular Carteret County water
3 rules on file
Cape Fear estuary
Statewide closure window; September only
1 rule on file
Cape Fear River (joint waters)
Joint waters: striped bass C&R only; inland + coastal licence both required
3 rules on file
Currituck Sound
Coastal-influence water; inland licence covers
1 rule on file
Falls Lake
Statewide rule; popular Raleigh-area metro water
1 rule on file
Lake Norman
Statewide 14 in / 5 / day; tournament water
1 rule on file
Neuse River
Slot 18–27 in; primary inshore + estuarine fishery
2 rules on file
New River (Onslow)
Statewide rule; cold-stun closure zone in severe winters
1 rule on file
Outer Banks surf
Coastal licence; red drum 1 / day slot; trophy red drum tagged in fall
4 rules on file
Pamlico Sound
Red drum + spotted seatrout primary water; coastal licence required
4 rules on file
Roanoke River
Striped bass: special season + slot; emergency in-season changes common
2 rules on file
Shearon Harris Reservoir
Trophy-bass reservoir; statewide rule
1 rule on file
Yadkin / Pee Dee chain (High Rock, Tuckertown, etc.)
Statewide rule; Bassmaster Classic host
1 rule on file
Ohio OH
Ohio statewide rules →Alum Creek Reservoir
12 in minimum, 5 / day; Columbus-area saugeye + bass water
1 rule on file
Bass Islands (Kelleys, Put-in-Bay)
14 in minimum; trophy smallmouth zone
1 rule on file
Berlin Reservoir
4 / day, 15 in minimum; Mahoning watershed fishery
1 rule on file
Buckeye Lake
12 in minimum, 5 / day; central Ohio metro fishery
1 rule on file
Chagrin River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: same regs as Rocky; closed to night-fishing during stocked steelhead season on listed reaches
2 rules on file
Conneaut Creek
Steelhead Alley: easternmost stocked tributary; OH/PA boundary applies near mouth
2 rules on file
Grand River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: longest stocked tributary in the system; same 2 / day, 12 in
2 rules on file
Hoover Reservoir
12 in minimum, 5 / day; Columbus metro reservoir
1 rule on file
Indian Lake
12 in minimum, 5 / day; popular Logan County reservoir
1 rule on file
Inland lakes
30 / day, no size minimum
1 rule on file
Lake Erie (Ohio waters — all four management zones)
Western, West-Central, Central, and Eastern management zones with zone-specific yellow perch daily bag set each spring by the Lake Erie Committee
7 rules on file
Lake St. Marys
No-horsepower-limit largemouth + crappie reservoir; 9 in crappie minimum, 30 / day
2 rules on file
Mad River
12 in minimum; coldwater + tailrace smallmouth fishery
1 rule on file
Mosquito Creek Lake
Northeast Ohio walleye reservoir; 15 in minimum, 4 / day
3 rules on file
Ohio River
Boundary water with KY/WV; Ohio licence honoured to the south bank. Trophy flathead + blue catfish regs apply
3 rules on file
Pymatuning Reservoir (OH/PA boundary)
Reciprocal walleye/crappie regs with Pennsylvania; either licence honoured on the open water
2 rules on file
Rocky River (Lake Erie tributary)
Steelhead Alley: stocked steelhead fishery Oct – April; 2 / day, 12 in minimum
2 rules on file
Vermilion River
Steelhead Alley: westernmost stocked tributary
2 rules on file
Texas TX
Texas statewide rules →Aransas Bay system
Statewide 20–28 in slot, 3 / day; bay-specific bait-shrimp rules apply
1 rule on file
Caddo Lake
Shared TX/LA — TX licence + LA reciprocity required on LA side
2 rules on file
Lake Buchanan
Statewide rule; Colorado River tributary spring run popular
1 rule on file
Lake Conroe
Statewide rule; community lake exemptions do not apply
2 rules on file
Lake Falcon
5-bass daily, 14 in minimum statewide rule applies
2 rules on file
Lake Fork Reservoir
Largemouth slot 16–24 in; bass 24 in+ for trophy tag
3 rules on file
Lake O' the Pines
Statewide 25 / day, 10 in applies
1 rule on file
Lake Tawakoni
Statewide 25 / day, 10 in applies; striper rules tracked separately
2 rules on file
Lake Texoma
Striper and white-bass combined limit applies on TX/OK reciprocity zone
2 rules on file
Lewisville Lake
Heavily-fished urban reservoir; standard 12 in / 25 fish applies
1 rule on file
Lower Laguna Madre
Statewide rule plus boat-traffic restrictions in seagrass exclusion zones
1 rule on file
Matagorda Bay
Statewide rule; commercial reef-harvest zones marked seasonally
1 rule on file
Sabine Lake
Shared TX/LA — TX licence on TX waters; LA reciprocity required on LA side
1 rule on file
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Standard 14 in / 5-fish; tournament release rule applies
2 rules on file
Wisconsin WI
Wisconsin statewide rules →Castle Rock Lake
Wisconsin River impoundment; statewide rule
1 rule on file
Chippewa Flowage
Musky trophy water: 50 in minimum
3 rules on file
Green Bay (Lake Michigan)
Great Lakes booklet: 54 in minimum, separate season
4 rules on file
Lac Court Oreilles
50 in minimum; spring-fed deep musky water
1 rule on file
Lake Geneva
Southern zone year-round bass; deep clear-water fishery
1 rule on file
Lake Mendota
Southern zone year-round; Madison-area metro fishery
1 rule on file
Lake Michigan (WI waters)
Great Lakes booklet applies; salmon + trout stamp required
1 rule on file
Lake Pepin
Mississippi River pool; boundary water with MN
1 rule on file
Lake Vermilion (Vilas Co.)
Statewide 40 in; classic Hayward-area opener
2 rules on file
Lake Winnebago
Walleye + sturgeon special regs; sturgeon spearing licence required Feb
2 rules on file
Mississippi River (boundary)
MN/WI reciprocal licence rules; combined bag limits with MN
4 rules on file
Pelican Lake (Oneida Co.)
Statewide 40 in; pressured trophy fishery
2 rules on file
Petenwell Flowage
Wisconsin River impoundment; statewide rule
1 rule on file
Wisconsin River (lower)
Statewide rule; smallmouth + sauger water
1 rule on file
Wolf River
Statewide rule; spring smallmouth run heavily fished
1 rule on file
How to read these pages
- Each water-body page shows the rules that override or supplement the statewide rule for that specific lake, river, bay, sound, or reservoir. State-level rules (slot limits, daily bag, gear restrictions) still apply unless the water-body page calls out an override.
- Rules are sourced from the state agency's published regulation booklet for 2026. Emergency in-season changes (closures, slot adjustments) are not yet wired — verify with the agency before a trip during shoulder seasons.
- We currently cover 11 states in deep mode. Coverage expands as we ingest more state booklets — see the directory for which states are deep vs. stub.