What special fishing regulations apply at Flaming Gorge Reservoir?

Flaming Gorge Reservoir carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Wyoming's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Walleye, and 1 more. One of them reads: "WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir; trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); lake trout no creel/possession limit on fish 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 1 2024 to suppress small-laker overpopulation, protecting kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; IGFA all-tackle world-record brown trout 33 lb 10 oz Flaming Gorge UT-side 1979 + WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995; kokanee salmon 3 / day within the 4 / day combined trout limit (reduced from 4 effective Oct 2024)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Flaming Gorge Reservoir?

Yes. Flaming Gorge 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 Flaming Gorge Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Wyoming rules.

Do Flaming Gorge Reservoir's special rules replace Wyoming's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Wyoming's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Flaming Gorge Reservoir 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 Flaming Gorge Reservoir?

Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Walleye, and Kokanee salmon have a water-body-specific rule on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, each linking to its full Wyoming regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Wyoming limits.

2026 regulation year

Flaming Gorge Reservoir 2026 — Wyoming Fishing Regulations

Wyoming statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated May 30, 2026

Flaming Gorge Reservoir carries 6 special-regulation overlays on top of Wyoming's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Walleye, and 1 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir; trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); lake trout no creel/possession limit on fish 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 1 2024 to suppress small-laker overpopulation, protecting kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; IGFA all-tackle world-record brown trout 33 lb 10 oz Flaming Gorge UT-side 1979 + WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995; kokanee salmon 3 / day within the 4 / day combined trout limit (reduced from 4 effective Oct 2024)
Source: Wyoming special-water list

Per-species rules on Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Rainbow trout regulations →
Trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Brown trout regulations →
Trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); IGFA all-tackle world-record brown trout 33 lb 10 oz Flaming Gorge UT-side 1979; WY/UT joint reciprocal compact; 8-12 lb fish routinely with 20+ lb fish landed annually
Lake trout (Mackinaw) regulations →
No limit on lake trout 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 2024 to suppress overpopulation, protect kokanee), only 1 over 28 in in possession; WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995; WY/UT joint reciprocal compact; 15-30 lb fish routinely on spring + fall jigging patterns
Walleye regulations →
6 / day with 15 in min; WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Kokanee salmon regulations →
3 / day within the 4 / day combined trout limit (no more than 3 of the 4 may be kokanee — joint WY/UT compact, reduced from 4 effective Oct 2024 due to a declining population); WGFD encourages targeting lake trout after limiting on kokanee

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

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Flaming Gorge Reservoir?: Flaming Gorge Reservoir carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Wyoming's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Walleye, and 1 more. One of them reads: "WY/UT joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir; trout 4 / day combined (joint-compact exception to the statewide 6 / day); lake trout no creel/possession limit on fish 28 in and smaller (reclassified nongame Oct 1 2024 to suppress small-laker overpopulation, protecting kokanee) with only 1 over 28 in in possession; IGFA all-tackle world-record brown trout 33 lb 10 oz Flaming Gorge UT-side 1979 + WY state-record lake trout 50 lb 0 oz Flaming Gorge 1995; kokanee salmon 3 / day within the 4 / day combined trout limit (reduced from 4 effective Oct 2024)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Flaming Gorge Reservoir?: Yes. Flaming Gorge 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 Flaming Gorge Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Wyoming rules.
Do Flaming Gorge Reservoir's special rules replace Wyoming's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Wyoming's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Flaming Gorge Reservoir 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 Flaming Gorge Reservoir?: Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Walleye, and Kokanee salmon have a water-body-specific rule on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, each linking to its full Wyoming regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Wyoming limits.

← Back to Wyoming regulations overview