2026 regulation year
Buffalo Bill Reservoir 2026 — Wyoming Fishing Regulations
Wyoming statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Buffalo Bill Reservoir carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Wyoming's 2026 fishing rules — covering Kokanee salmon. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Buffalo Bill Reservoir
Per WGFD area regulations; WGFD-stocked Shoshone River kokanee reservoir near Cody (Park County)
Official source
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Wyoming fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Wyoming fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Wyoming Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Wyoming trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Wyoming
- Bear River drainage
- Bighorn Lake / Yellowtail Reservoir
- Bighorn Lake tailwater on the Bighorn River
- Bighorn Mountains high lakes
- Boysen Reservoir
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir
- Fremont Lake
- Glendo Reservoir
- Grand Teton National Park
- Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam
- Grey Reef tailwater on the North Platte River
- Headwater streams statewide
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Buffalo Bill Reservoir?
- Buffalo Bill Reservoir carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Wyoming's statewide 2026 rules, covering Kokanee salmon. It reads: "Per WGFD area regulations; WGFD-stocked Shoshone River kokanee reservoir near Cody (Park County)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Buffalo Bill Reservoir?
- Yes. Buffalo Bill Reservoir is in Wyoming, so a valid Wyoming fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Buffalo Bill Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Wyoming rules.
- Do Buffalo Bill Reservoir's special rules replace Wyoming's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Wyoming's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Buffalo Bill Reservoir by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule 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 Buffalo Bill Reservoir?
- Kokanee salmon has a water-body-specific rule on Buffalo Bill Reservoir, each linking to its full Wyoming regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Wyoming limits.