What special fishing regulations apply at Willard Bay?

Willard Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Brown trout, Walleye, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Walleye 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in — Utah's flagship walleye fishery; smallmouth bass 6 / day + 12 in min; channel catfish 8 / day no min; bluegill + crappie 50 / day combined no min; brown trout no daily bag limit (UDWR-distinctive — Willard Bay browns managed as encouraged-harvest forage-control)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Willard Bay?

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

Do Willard Bay's special rules replace Utah's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Willard Bay 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 Willard Bay?

Brown trout, Walleye, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Willard Bay, each linking to its full Utah regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Utah limits.

2026 regulation year

Willard Bay 2026 — Utah Fishing Regulations

Utah statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Willard Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Utah's 2026 fishing rules — covering Brown trout, Walleye, 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

Walleye 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in — Utah's flagship walleye fishery; smallmouth bass 6 / day + 12 in min; channel catfish 8 / day no min; bluegill + crappie 50 / day combined no min; brown trout no daily bag limit (UDWR-distinctive — Willard Bay browns managed as encouraged-harvest forage-control)
Source: Utah special-water list

Per-species rules on Willard Bay

Brown trout regulations →
NO daily bag limit on brown trout (UDWR-distinctive encouraged-harvest forage-control); walleye 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in
Walleye regulations →
6 / day, only 1 over 24 in; 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually
Yellow perch regulations →
15 / day yellow perch at the reservoir + inlet channel (reduced from the statewide 50 / day)

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

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Willard Bay?: Willard Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Utah's statewide 2026 rules, covering Brown trout, Walleye, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Walleye 6 / day, only 1 over 24 in — Utah's flagship walleye fishery; smallmouth bass 6 / day + 12 in min; channel catfish 8 / day no min; bluegill + crappie 50 / day combined no min; brown trout no daily bag limit (UDWR-distinctive — Willard Bay browns managed as encouraged-harvest forage-control)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Willard Bay?: Yes. Willard Bay 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 Willard Bay; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Utah rules.
Do Willard Bay's special rules replace Utah's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Utah's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Willard Bay 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 Willard Bay?: Brown trout, Walleye, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Willard Bay, each linking to its full Utah regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Utah limits.

← Back to Utah regulations overview