Wyoming Fish and Game issued a press release this month with details on new fishing regulations at Flaming Gorge Reservoir: The Wyoming Game and Fish and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources have developed regulations to help reduce the number of small lake trout in the reservoir. The regulations were approved in both states, with the new Wyoming regulations effective October 1st, 2024, to encourage additional harvest of small lake trout during the spawn. Utah’s regulations go into effect January 1st, 2025. The regulation changes aim to benefit the reservoir’s kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout populations by empowering anglers to harvest an unlimited number of small lake trout. The states also strived to create consistent regulations across the state line. Flaming Gorge anglers should carefully review the new rules for the state(s) where they plan to fish. Liberalizing the lake trout regulations will have the most impact over the next few months as anglers take to the ice, many targeting small lake trout. The new lake trout regulations allow anglers to harvest an unlimited number of lake trout less than or equal to 28 inches. However, the creel and possession limit on lake trout over 28 inches is still one. Anglers fishing the Wyoming side of the Gorge can fillet their lake trout anytime during the day because they are classified as a nongame species. The new regulations also allow anglers to legally dispose of unwanted small lake trout.
