2024 Fishing Regulations - 25

S TAT E W I D E R E G U L AT I O N S
Immediately upon removing a watercraft from any waters of this
state, the operator shall remove all visible vegetation from the watercraft
and trailer and drain all water from the watercraft including, but
not limited to, water in the hull, ballast tanks, bilges, live wells and
motors. All bilge and ballast plugs and other barriers that prevent
water drainage from a watercraft shall be removed or remain open
while a watercraft is transported by land within the state.
Any person transporting any watercraft into the state by land from
March 1 through November 30 shall have the watercraft inspected
by an authorized inspector prior to launching.
Any person transporting any watercraft that within the past thirty
(30) days has been in contact with a water known or suspected to contain
zebra or quagga mussels shall have the watercraft inspected by
an authorized inspector prior to launching regardless of time of year.
All persons transporting a motorized or nonmotorized watercraft
shall stop at aquatic invasive species check stations that are established
on their route of travel. As part of all inspections, all compartments,
equipment, and containers that may hold water, including, but
not limited to, live wells, ballast and bilge areas shall be completely
drained as directed by authorized inspectors.
Any person who refuses to permit inspection of their watercraft
or refuses to complete any required removal and disposal of aquatic
invasive species shall be prohibited from allowing the watercraft to
contact any waters of this state and the watercraft will be subject
to impoundment until an aquatic invasive species inspection and
decontamination is completed.
All watercraft owners or operators that have not paid the aquatic
invasive species program fee as part of the motorized watercraft
registration fee, shall purchase and display an aquatic invasive
species program decal valid for the current calendar year prior to
contacting any waters of this state. Purchase of this decal shall be
evidenced by an aquatic invasive species program decal properly
affixed to the watercraft. Owners of multiple non-motorized watercraft
may transfer valid decals between their own non-motorized
watercraft, however, each non-motorized watercraft shall display a
valid decal while contacting any of the waters of this state. Proof
of decal purchase may be used in lieu of a properly affixed decal
for up to fifteen (15) days from date of purchase. All non-motorized
inflatable watercraft ten (10) feet in length or less, all solid and inflatable
paddleboards regardless of length, and all devices defined as
water sport toys are exempt from this decal provision.
Visit the Aquatic Invasive Species website at wgfd.wyo.gov/AIS
for detailed regulations and to determine if your watercraft requires
a decal, purchase a decal, find inspection locations and dates and
hours of operation, and to find a list of U.S. waters known or suspected
to contain zebra and quagga mussels.
Transportation of Live Fish
No person shall transport live fish or live fish eggs from the water
of capture, except as provided by Commission regulations or as
authorized by the Department. This includes transporting live fish in
the live well of a fishing boat that has been removed from the water.
Tagging or Marking Fish
No person shall tag or mark fish and release them into the waters
of this state without prior written approval from the Department.
Closure of Fish Holding Facilities
All fish rearing and retaining ponds used by the state including those
located at state fish hatcheries, or any that may be constructed elsewhere,
are closed to fishing throughout the calendar year. Temporary
facilities at spawning station sites are closed to fishing during the
time they are in use by the Department.
Image courtesy New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Brook Stickleback - free standing spines on back, usually numbering five
(5) are characteristic of this fish.
All Goldfish (Carassius auratus) and koi taken or purchased for
use as bait shall be killed immediately in accordance with Commission
Regulation Chapter 52, Take of Nongame Wildlife from
Within Wyoming.
Any live nongame fish captured for use as dead bait shall be killed
immediately and shall not be transported live.
No person shall intentionally tamper with or remove a trap or net, or
remove fish from a trap or net that is set and maintained in compliance
with Commission regulations unless in possession of a valid seining
license and written permission from the seining license holder.
All wild caught live baitfish transported out of the water of capture
shall be held in aquaria when not in use. Wild caught live baitfish
confined to a live car, net, pen or other enclosure in the same water
from which the baitfish were captured are exempt from the aquaria
holding requirement.
All aquaria and enclosures shall have the owner's name and seining
license number attached while in use.
A seining license holder shall allow Department personnel to
inspect live baitfish and all aquaria and enclosures used to hold live
2024 WYOMING FISHING REGULATIONS
23
Winter Closures
Some waters that are open to fishing are not accessible due to other
land use restrictions. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and
US Forest Service have seasonal closures to protect wintering big
game herds. Be sure to check with the appropriate land management
agency before planning a winter trip.
Bait Regulations
Seining and Trapping of Fish
No person shall seine, net, trap or spear baitfish without first obtaining
a valid seining license. A valid seining license is required when using
a seine, net, trap or spear to take baitfish, even those that will be used
as dead bait. Seining licenses may be obtained from Department regional
offices or from Cheyenne Headquarters. No person shall have
more than one (1) seining license each calendar year. Locations where
baitfish may be obtained, possessed and used shall be specified on
the seining license. Seining or trapping and use of baitfish shall only
be done as specified in regulations for each drainage area.
Legal gear for taking baitfish includes seines, traps, cast nets,
umbrella nets and dip nets. There are no restrictions on the size
of mesh or net size for cast nets, umbrella nets or dip nets. Collection
gear shall be hand operated. Seines used for the purpose of
taking baitfish shall not be more than five (5) feet deep. Traps used
for the purpose of taking baitfish shall not be more than thirty-six
(36) inches long, twelve (12) inches deep, twelve (12) inches wide or
twelve (12) inches in diameter and the throat shall not exceed one (1)
inch width. A seining license holder shall not use more than five (5)
traps at a time. A holder of both a seining license and live baitfish
dealer's license shall have no restriction on the number of traps that
can be used. The owner's name and seining license number shall
be attached to each trap while in use.
Any game fish taken by trap, net or seine shall be released to the
water immediately.
Any brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) taken must be killed
immediately and shall not be possessed or transported.
http://wgfd.wyo.gov/AIS
2024 Fishing Regulations

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Fishing Regulations
