What special fishing regulations apply at Crowley Lake?

Crowley Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override California's statewide 2026 rules, covering Trout (rainbow, brown, brook). One of them reads: "Eastern Sierra trophy rainbow + cutthroat + brown trout reservoir (Mono County); opening day historically the Saturday closest to April 25 — one of the largest single-day trout-angling events in the western US; trophy management with 2-fish/18 in min on portions during designated trophy season; barbless / artificial-only sections." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Crowley Lake?

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

Do Crowley Lake's special rules replace California's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. California's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Crowley 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 Crowley Lake?

Trout (rainbow, brown, brook) has a water-body-specific rule on Crowley Lake, each linking to its full California regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide California limits.

2026 regulation year

Crowley Lake 2026 — California Fishing Regulations

California statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Crowley Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of California's 2026 fishing rules — covering Trout (rainbow, brown, brook). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Eastern Sierra trophy rainbow + cutthroat + brown trout reservoir (Mono County); opening day historically the Saturday closest to April 25 — one of the largest single-day trout-angling events in the western US; trophy management with 2-fish/18 in min on portions during designated trophy season; barbless / artificial-only sections
Source: California special-water list

Per-species rules on Crowley Lake

Trout (rainbow, brown, brook) regulations →
Stocked rainbows + Sacramento perch — annual special opener

Official source

California Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 California fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official California fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in California

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Crowley Lake?: Crowley Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override California's statewide 2026 rules, covering Trout (rainbow, brown, brook). One of them reads: "Eastern Sierra trophy rainbow + cutthroat + brown trout reservoir (Mono County); opening day historically the Saturday closest to April 25 — one of the largest single-day trout-angling events in the western US; trophy management with 2-fish/18 in min on portions during designated trophy season; barbless / artificial-only sections." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Crowley Lake?: Yes. Crowley Lake is in California, so a valid California fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Crowley Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide California rules.
Do Crowley Lake's special rules replace California's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. California's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Crowley 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 Crowley Lake?: Trout (rainbow, brown, brook) has a water-body-specific rule on Crowley Lake, each linking to its full California regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide California limits.

← Back to California regulations overview