What special fishing regulations apply at Fish Lake?

Fish Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee salmon, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Lake trout 4 / day no min with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); rainbow trout 8 / day; splake hybrid 4 / day; brown trout 4 / day; cutthroat 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Bonneville cutthroat conservation reaches." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Fish Lake?

Yes. Fish 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 Fish Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Utah rules.

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

Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Fish 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 Fish Lake?

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

2026 regulation year

Fish Lake 2026 — Utah Fishing Regulations

Utah statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Fish Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Utah's 2026 fishing rules — covering Lake trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee salmon, Yellow perch. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Lake trout 4 / day no min with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); rainbow trout 8 / day; splake hybrid 4 / day; brown trout 4 / day; cutthroat 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Bonneville cutthroat conservation reaches
Source: Utah special-water list

Per-species rules on Fish Lake

Lake trout (Mackinaw) regulations →
4 / day with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery)
Kokanee salmon regulations →
Counted within the 4 / day combined trout limit; no possession Sept 10 – Nov 30
Yellow perch regulations →
50 / day no min; strong perch population alongside lake trout + splake

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 Fish Lake?: Fish Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee salmon, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Lake trout 4 / day no min with mandatory harvest of fish under 22 in (UDWR-distinctive small-Mackinaw suppression program — promotes 28+ in trophy fishery); rainbow trout 8 / day; splake hybrid 4 / day; brown trout 4 / day; cutthroat 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Bonneville cutthroat conservation reaches." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Fish Lake?: Yes. Fish 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 Fish Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Utah rules.
Do Fish Lake's special rules replace Utah's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Fish 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 Fish Lake?: Lake trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee salmon, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Fish Lake, each linking to its full Utah regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Utah limits.

← Back to Utah regulations overview