Fishing regulation changes taking effect for 2026

Make sure you are up-to-date on fishing regulation changes that took effect Jan. 1. From tackle requirements on the North Platte, to expanded harvest opportunities in the Jackson Region, anglers can stay informed and ready for success in 2026 by heading to the Game and Fish website.

Make sure your commercial fishing boat is registered

Beginning Jan. 1, all boats providing commercial fishing guide services on Wyoming waterways will be required to display commercially-guided fishing boat registration stickers on the stern of the watercraft and tongue of the watercraft trailer.  Licenses are available for purchase on the Game and Fish website, as well as at our state and regional offices.

Story Hatchery end of year update

The Story Hatchery wrapped up its fall spawning operations for brook, brown and lake trout in October. More than 2.7 million eggs were collected this season. Just over 10,000 of the eggs were retained as future brood stock and approximately 1.3 million of the eggs will be used to produce splake and tiger trout hybrids. 

Prescribed fire on Ocean Lake

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation, will implement a prescribed fire on Ponds 1,2, 5 and 6 at Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area. The prescribed fire is scheduled for sometime in February, and is subject to weather conditions.

Alternatives for cancelled ice derbies

Ice fishing tournaments are subject to change, and have been cancelled in the past when ice conditions were not safe enough to proceed. While these tournaments have been cancelled, the mild winter in terms of ice has allowed some anglers to continue fishing from boats.