Planning a fishing trip to the Cowboy State? Wyoming offers stunning, high-quality fishing opportunities year-round. Before you cast a line, you must understand the current Wyoming fishing license and regulations. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) releases an annual guide detailing all the rules.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the necessary permits and rules for a legal and successful 2025 fishing season. By following these steps, you ensure compliance and help protect Wyoming’s valuable aquatic resources.
Securing Your Wyoming Fishing License: Requirements and Fees
The first step for any angler is determining which permits are required for the 2025 season. Fishing licenses are mandated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
Who Needs a Wyoming Fishing License?
Fishing licenses are required for all resident and nonresident anglers who are 14 years old or older.
- Resident Youth Exemptions: Resident youth under the age of 14 do not require a license to fish in Wyoming.
- Nonresident Youth Rules: Nonresident youth under 14 years old do not need a license if they are accompanied by an adult who possesses a valid Wyoming fishing license. However, the nonresident youth’s catches must be applied to the adult’s creel limit.
- Specialized Areas: Note that certain waters, such as fishing preserves or those with special limited fishing permits, may have exceptions to the standard license requirements.
The Mandatory Conservation Stamp
In addition to your fishing license, you must usually purchase a Conservation Stamp. Each person licensed to hunt or fish in Wyoming must buy a single Conservation Stamp. The stamp is valid for twelve consecutive months. You must carry proof of a valid stamp while hunting or fishing.
You are exempt from purchasing the Conservation Stamp if you hold certain types of licenses. These include daily hunting or fishing licenses and the nonresident five-consecutive-day fishing license.
2025 Wyoming Fishing License Fees
Fees for licenses are established by statute and include a $2 additional fee applied to most types. The cost varies based on residency and the duration of the license.
| License Type | Resident Fee | Nonresident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual (12 Month) Fishing License (18+) | $27.00 | $102.00 |
| Daily Fishing License | $6.00 | $14.00 |
| 5-Day Consecutive Fishing License | N/A | $56.00 |
| 12 Month Conservation Stamp | $21.50 | $21.50 |
Purchasing and Applying for Your Wyoming Fishing Permits
Licenses and Conservation Stamps can be bought online via the Department’s Electronic Licensing System. They are also available at the Cheyenne Headquarters, Department Regional Offices, and from license selling agents across the state. Annual licenses are valid for 365 consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Statewide Wyoming Fishing Regulations: Methods and Compliance
To ensure ethical and legal angling, all sportsmen must adhere to WGFD regulations regarding methods and fish handling.
Legal Fishing Methods and Attendance
Except where specifically noted, fish must only be taken with a maximum of two rods or poles. Lines and hooks must be attached to the rods. Critically, the angler must remain in attendance of their lines at all times.
When fishing through the ice, you may use up to six lines, but only on specific waters. These waters are listed under the Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision. If using more than two lines, the angler must be no more than 300 yards away from all lines.
Rules on Using Bait and Baitfish
Bait is defined broadly, including living or dead organisms and scented or flavored materials. Bait can be used on the majority of Wyoming waters unless otherwise specified.
- Allowed Baits: Corn may be possessed and used as bait in waters where bait fishing is allowed. You can legally use internal organs, eggs, eyes, fins, and skin of game fish as bait. Any part of non-game fish may also be used.
- Restrictions: If a specific water is listed as “artificial flies and lures only,” then bait use is strictly prohibited.
- Artificial Lures: Artificial flies and lures must be manmade and cannot include edible parts, scents, flavors, or chemical attractants. A trout bead fixed two inches or less from the eye of a bare hook is considered an artificial lure.
Possession and Transportation Regulations
Proper handling and transportation of harvested fish is a strict part of the Wyoming fishing regulations.
- Reduced to Possession: Any fish placed on a stringer, in a container, or a live well is considered “reduced to possession”.
- Killing Requirement: Once reduced to possession, the fish must be killed prior to being transported from the water of origin. Releasing a fish reduced to possession alive is unlawful without written Department approval.
- Transportation Rules: Fish must be kept so their species and numbers can be determined easily. If length limits apply, the whole body must remain intact during transit (gills and entrails can be removed). If no length limits apply, fillets must retain at least one square inch of skin for species identification.
Key Wyoming Fishing Creel and Possession Limits
The Statewide Creel Limit dictates the maximum number and length of game fish an angler can harvest and keep during any single day. The possession limit is generally the same as the daily creel limit.
General Trout Limits
The standard limits cover trout (brown, cutthroat, grayling, golden, rainbow, salmon, tiger trout, and other hybrids). This excludes brook trout, lake trout, and splake. The total combined creel and possession limit for this trout category is six (6) per day.
- Lakes: The limit is six (6) trout, unless an exception applies to that lake.
- Streams: The limit is three (3) trout, unless an exception applies. Only one (1) stream trout may exceed sixteen (16) inches.
Specific Species Limits
| Species Category | Statewide Creel & Possession Limit | Key Size Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Sixteen (16) | None specified statewide |
| Lake Trout & Splake (combined) | Six (6) | Only one (1) may exceed twenty-four (24) inches |
| Walleye | Six (6) | None specified statewide |
| Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass (combined) | Six (6) | None specified statewide |
| Tiger Muskie | One (1) | Must release all tiger muskie less than thirty-six (36) inches immediately |
| Panfish (Yellow Perch, Crappie, etc.) | Fifty (50) | None specified statewide |
| Nongame Fish | Unlimited (No limit) | None specified statewide |
The statewide limits and rules serve as a baseline. However, many exceptions exist for specific locations.
Understanding the Drainage Areas
Wyoming is geographically divided into five Drainage Areas (Areas 1 through 5). These areas organize the regulatory exceptions. You must consult the specific regulations for the water you plan to fish. Exceptions may apply to stream segments, drainage areas, or individual reservoirs.
Regulations for Special Jurisdictions
Specific federal or tribal lands require different permits, regardless of your state Wyoming fishing license status.
- Yellowstone National Park: Anglers 16 and older need a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit. A state fishing license is not required for fishing within the park. YNP regulations prioritize native fish conservation. Non-native species are often required to be killed immediately, such as lake trout in Yellowstone Lake.
- Grand Teton National Park: Anglers 14 and older must purchase a Wyoming fishing license. The Wyoming license is valid within GTNP.
- Wind River Indian Reservation: Fishing or even traveling on the reservation requires a Wind River Tribal Fishing/Trespass Permit. WGFD licenses are not valid on reservation lands.
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention: A Critical Regulation
Wyoming takes the threat of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) seriously. Compliance with inspection rules is a necessary condition for any watercraft to contact state waters.
Key AIS compliance requirements include:
- Clean and Drain: Immediately upon removing a watercraft, the operator must remove all visible vegetation. You must drain all water from areas like the hull, live wells, and bilges.
- Plugs Removed: Bilge and ballast plugs must be removed or remain open during land transport within Wyoming.
- Inspections: Any person transporting a watercraft into Wyoming between March 1 and November 30 must have the boat inspected before launching. Anyone transporting a watercraft must stop at established AIS check stations encountered on their route.
- Decals: Most watercraft owners/operators must buy and display an Aquatic Invasive Species Program Decal. Owners of non-motorized inflatables 10 feet or less, and paddleboards, are exempt from the decal rule.
Mastering the Wyoming fishing license and regulations is crucial for enjoying the state’s world-class fisheries. By securing the proper permits and respecting conservation efforts like creel limits and AIS prevention, you contribute to a sustainable fishing future. Always refer to the most recent WGFD regulations booklet for the final, specific rules pertaining to your destination.
Frequently Asked Questions on Wyoming Fishing License and Regulations
Do I need a Conservation Stamp in addition to my Wyoming fishing license?
Generally, yes. Every person licensed to hunt or fish in Wyoming must purchase a single Conservation Stamp, valid for twelve months. However, daily licenses and the nonresident five-consecutive-day fishing license are among the exemptions.
How many fishing rods can I use in Wyoming?
Except where otherwise provided, you can use a maximum of two rods or poles, and you must remain in attendance of your lines at all times. On specific waters, during the ice-covered period, you may be permitted to use up to six lines when fishing through the ice.
Can I use worms or PowerBait when fishing in Wyoming?
Yes, bait (which includes worms and PowerBait) can be used on the majority of Wyoming waters. You must check the regulations for your specific water body. If the water is listed as “artificial flies and lures only,” then these baits are prohibited.
When is Free Fishing Day in Wyoming?
Wyoming designates the first Saturday of National Boating and Fishing Week as a free fishing day. In 2025, this date is June 7th. On this day, anyone can fish without a license. All other fishing regulations, creel limits, and size restrictions remain in effect.
If I catch a fish and put it in my live well, can I release it later?
No. Any fish placed in a container, on a stringer, or in a live well is considered reduced to possession. Once reduced to possession, the fish must be killed before you transport it from the water of origin. Releasing it alive is unlawful without prior written approval from the Department.
What are the combined limits for trout in Wyoming?
The total combined creel and possession limit for the trout category (excluding brook trout, lake trout, and splake) is six (6) per day or in possession. This limit applies regardless of whether you are fishing streams or lakes. Streams typically have a limit of three (3) trout, with only one allowed to exceed sixteen (16) inches.
