2023 Fishing Regulations - 23

S TAT E W I D E R E G U L AT I O N S
Length
Means the total length of a
fish in inches, as measured
in a straight line along a flat
surface, from the tip of the
snout to the tip of the tail.
HOW TO MEASURE A FISH
Nongame Fish
Means all fish not defined as game fish or aquatic invasive species,
including baitfish.
Personal Watercraft
Means any inboard motorized watercraft less than sixteen (16) feet
in length which has a water-jet pump as its primary source of motor
propulsion and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting,
standing or kneeling on the watercraft, rather than the conventional
manner of sitting or standing inside the watercraft.
Possession Limit
Means the maximum number of game fish that may legally be in possession
at any time and in any form. Game fish in transit or storage,
including home or domicile, shall be considered in possession. Possession
limits apply regardless of how many days an angler has fished.
Snag
Means attempting to take a fish in a manner that the fish does not
take the hook voluntarily in its mouth.
Special Fishing Contest Provision
Means a provision promulgated for exclusion of fishing contests
from specific waters.
Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision
Means a provision promulgated for the ice covered period for specific
waters.
Stream
Means water in a permanent bed or channel with a current that is
usually continuous in one direction and includes creeks, rivers, irrigation
ditches, drains, canals, sloughs and ponds created by beavers.
Streams may not flow continuously during low-flow periods. Ponds
or puddles in a stream channel during low flow periods shall be
considered to be a stream.
Trout Bead
Means a bead constructed from any non-edible material to resemble
a trout egg that is fished on a line or leader above a hook or artificial
fly. Beads associated with spinners, bait harnesses and other types
of artificial lures are not considered trout beads.
Wild Caught Live Baitfish Possession Area
Means the specific locations in Area 2, 3 or 5 where wild caught live
baitfish may be possessed regardless of whether they were captured
by a seining license holder or obtained from a live baitfish dealer.
Seasons and Fishing Hours
Fishing is permitted year-round twenty-four (24) hours a day in any
waters of this state except as otherwise provided by Commission
regulation for specific areas, streams, lakes, or portions thereof.
Exceptions are listed with the regulations for each drainage area
on pages 8-18.
Emergency Closure
Specified waters may be closed to fishing because of an emergency.
Methods
Except as otherwise provided, fish shall only be taken or fished for
with a maximum of two (2) rods or poles, with lines and hooks attached
and the angler in attendance. No line may have more than
three (3) single hooked devices attached. It is legal to use hand
lines, set lines, poles, or tip ups when fishing through the ice and
the angler is in attendance.
Internal organs, eggs, eyes, fins, and skin of game fish are the only
portions that may be used legally as bait. Any part of nongame fish may
be used as bait. The use of bait may be restricted on specific waters as
described in the Area Regulations on pages 8-18. Use or possession
of bait is prohibited in areas or on waters where fishing is permitted
by the use of artificial flies and lures only. Corn may be possessed and
used as bait in all waters where fishing with bait is permitted.
It is unlawful to snag fish.
A trout bead fixed on a line or leader two (2) inches or less from
the eye of a bare hook is considered an artificial lure. Fishing with
a trout bead more than two (2) inches from the eye of a bare hook
or artificial fly is considered snagging and is prohibited.
It is unlawful to take, wound or destroy fish with a firearm of any
nature or by using poison, deleterious drug, electrical device, chemical,
explosive or any similar substance or device. It is legal to take
nongame fish with archery equipment without a license or permit,
but it is always unlawful to take game fish with archery equipment.
Artificial light may be used while fishing with legal fishing methods
except as prohibited for Underwater Spear Gun Fishing below.
Underwater Spear Gun Fishing
Fish may be taken by underwater spear gun fishing only in lakes.
No person shall use an underwater spear gun to take game fish
under water without obtaining a fishing license.
The use of artificial light to take game fish with a spear gun is
prohibited.
No game fish may be taken unless the underwater spear gun
fisherman is completely submerged.
All spears used on spear guns shall be attached to the spear gun
with a lanyard with a maximum length of twenty (20) feet.
Underwater spear gun fishing is not permitted within one hundred
(100) yards of any designated swimming or water ski areas, boat
dock, ramp or spillway.
A diver flag shall be displayed on the water when diving or underwater
spear gun fishing. It shall be a rectangular flag that is
either blue and white in color (alpha flag) or red in color with a
white diagonal stripe (diving flag), not less than twelve (12) inches
x twelve (12) inches and displayed no less than three (3) feet above
the surface of the water.
The limit on walleye taken by spear gun shall be two (2) per day or
in possession, except where designated as nongame fish or where
otherwise provided for Alcova Reservoir in Section 33. All other
general and water-specific creel and possession limits shall apply.
Special Winter Ice Fishing
Provision
The following method restrictions apply for waters covered by the
Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision.
* The use of more than two (2) lines is permitted only during the ice
covered period, and only when the angler is fishing through the
ice, on waters listed below as being included under the Special
Winter Ice Fishing Provision.
* No person shall use more than six (6) lines at any time to fish.
* When using more than two (2) lines, the angler's name shall be
attached to each line, pole or tip-up; the angler shall be no more
than three hundred (300) yards from all lines; and, anglers shall
check their own lines.
2023 WYOMING FISHING REGULATIONS
21
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2023 Fishing Regulations

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