What special fishing regulations apply at Bear Lake?

Bear Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Cutthroat trout and Lake trout (Mackinaw). One of them reads: "Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact; endemic Bear Lake cutthroat trout 1 / day with 22 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT (endemic Bonneville cutthroat subspecies — Oncorhynchus clarkii utah — found nowhere else in the world); Bonneville cisco late-January – early-February dipnetting-through-ice season for endemic salmonid (country's only ice-fishing-by-dipnetting season for an endemic species); Bonneville whitefish + Bear Lake whitefish no daily bag limit; lake trout (Mackinaw) 4 / day no min." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Bear Lake?

Yes. Bear Lake is in Utah, so a valid Utah fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bear Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Utah rules.

Do Bear Lake's special rules replace Utah's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bear Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Bear Lake?

Cutthroat trout and Lake trout (Mackinaw) have a water-body-specific rule on Bear Lake, each linking to its full Utah regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Utah limits.

2026 regulation year

Bear Lake 2026 — Utah Fishing Regulations

Utah statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Bear Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Utah's 2026 fishing rules — covering Cutthroat trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact; endemic Bear Lake cutthroat trout 1 / day with 22 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT (endemic Bonneville cutthroat subspecies — Oncorhynchus clarkii utah — found nowhere else in the world); Bonneville cisco late-January – early-February dipnetting-through-ice season for endemic salmonid (country's only ice-fishing-by-dipnetting season for an endemic species); Bonneville whitefish + Bear Lake whitefish no daily bag limit; lake trout (Mackinaw) 4 / day no min
Source: Utah special-water list

Per-species rules on Bear Lake

Cutthroat trout regulations →
Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact; endemic Bear Lake cutthroat 1 / day with 22 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT — Oncorhynchus clarkii utah endemic subspecies found nowhere else in the world
Lake trout (Mackinaw) regulations →
4 / day no min; Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact

Official source

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) publishes the authoritative 2026 Utah fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Utah fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Utah trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Utah

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Bear Lake?: Bear Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Cutthroat trout and Lake trout (Mackinaw). One of them reads: "Joint ID/UT reciprocal compact; endemic Bear Lake cutthroat trout 1 / day with 22 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT (endemic Bonneville cutthroat subspecies — Oncorhynchus clarkii utah — found nowhere else in the world); Bonneville cisco late-January – early-February dipnetting-through-ice season for endemic salmonid (country's only ice-fishing-by-dipnetting season for an endemic species); Bonneville whitefish + Bear Lake whitefish no daily bag limit; lake trout (Mackinaw) 4 / day no min." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Bear Lake?: Yes. Bear Lake is in Utah, so a valid Utah fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bear Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Utah rules.
Do Bear Lake's special rules replace Utah's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bear Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Bear Lake?: Cutthroat trout and Lake trout (Mackinaw) have a water-body-specific rule on Bear Lake, each linking to its full Utah regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Utah limits.

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