2026 regulation year
Snake River main stem 2026 — Wyoming Fishing Regulations
Wyoming statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Snake River main stem carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Wyoming's 2026 fishing rules — covering Cutthroat trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat 0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY on listed wild-trout reaches (WGFD Species of Special Concern protection — Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat endemic to upper Snake drainage in WY, found nowhere else); trout 6 / day combined; barbless single hook + artificial lure / fly only on listed reaches
Source: Wyoming special-water list
Per-species rules on Snake River main stem
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat (WGFD Species of Special Concern — endemic to upper Snake drainage in WY)
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
- Buffalo Bill 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
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Snake River main stem?
- Snake River main stem carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Wyoming's statewide 2026 rules, covering Cutthroat trout. One of them reads: "Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat 0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY on listed wild-trout reaches (WGFD Species of Special Concern protection — Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat endemic to upper Snake drainage in WY, found nowhere else); trout 6 / day combined; barbless single hook + artificial lure / fly only on listed reaches." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Snake River main stem?
- Yes. Snake River main stem 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 Snake River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Wyoming rules.
- Do Snake River main stem's special rules replace Wyoming's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Wyoming's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Snake River main stem 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 Snake River main stem?
- Cutthroat trout has a water-body-specific rule on Snake River main stem, each linking to its full Wyoming regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Wyoming limits.