Utah Fishing • Utah Fishing CONTACT US CONTENTS HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEBOOK 2021 1. Check the daily limits on page 7. Some limits have changed, so be sure to look at the Turn in a poacher 3 How to use this guidebook chart before you go fishing. Phone: 1-800-662-3337 4 Know the laws 2. Review the general rules, starting on page 8. These rules explain the licenses you Email: [email protected] 6 License and permit fees Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip 7 Daily limits need, the fishing methods you may use, and when you can transport and possess fish. 3. Look up a specific water in the section that starts on page 25. (If the water you’re look- Division offices 8 General rules: Licenses and 2021 permits ing for is not listed there, it is subject to the general rules and daily limits.) Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 8 Free Fishing Day Utah Fishing • Utah Fishing Monday through Friday. 8 License exemptions for youth Salt Lake City groups and organizations WHAT’S NEW? 1594 W North Temple 9 Discounted licenses for Free Fishing Day: Free Fishing Day will be Using bait to catch crayfish: Starting in Box 146301 disabled veterans held on June 12, 2021. This annual event is a 2021, you may use bait to catch crayfish in Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 10 Help conserve native great opportunity to share fishing fun with a waters where bait use is prohibited for fish, as 801-538-4700 cutthroat trout friend or family member. For more informa- long as none of your lines have hooks attached. 10 Fishing contests tion, see page 8. See page 12 for details. Central Region 11 General rules: Fishing methods 1115 N Main Street COVID-19 and fishing: Stay informed about Spearfishing changes: Changes to 11 How to measure a fish Springville, UT 84663 any COVID-19 pandemic-related changes underwater spearfishing opportunities at a 801-491-5678 15 Watercraft restrictions that might affect fishing regulations or access few waterbodies will go into effect in 2021. 16 Stream access in Utah in 2021. See the box on page 18 and visit The spearfishing season at Fish Lake will now Northeastern Region 17 Keep your license on your wildlife.utah.gov/covid. close on Sept. 9, 2021, and Kens Lake has 318 N Vernal Avenue phone or tablet been removed from the list of waterbodies Vernal, UT 84078 20 General rules: Possession and Fee increases for nonresident anglers: 435-781-9453 where underwater spearfishing is permitted. transportation Increases to license and permit fees for anglers At Red Fleet Reservoir, there is now a seasonal 22 Help protect Utah fisheries who are not Utah residents went into effect restriction in place on underwater spearfish- Northern Region on July 1, 2020. Some of those increased fees 23 Utah’s Walk-in Access program ing. For more information, see the Underwater 515 E 5300 S are listed in the tables on page 6. To see all Ogden, UT 84405 24 Fish consumption advisories spearfishing section that begins on page 14. 801-476-2740 of Utah’s license and permit fees, visit wildlife. 24 Utah’s boating laws and rules utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. Daily limit changes at Flaming Gorge 25 Rules for specific waters Reservoir: Starting in 2021, the daily limit Southeastern Region Kokanee salmon now part of trout 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A 26 Utah State Parks Annual Pass for bass at Flaming Gorge Reservoir will be Price, UT 84501 28 Community fishing waters limit: Starting Jan. 1, 2021, kokanee salmon three fish (largemouth and smallmouth 435-613-3700 42 The best fishing in Utah will be considered part of the statewide trout combined). The kokanee salmon limit is also 44 Tiger muskie vs. northern pike limit, which is a combined total of four fish per changing. You may keep a daily limit of up to day. Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon Southern Region 46 Angler feedback drives changes four trout and/or kokanee salmon (a combined at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 1470 N Airport Road 48 Identifying Utah’s native and total), excluding lake trout. These changes through Nov. 30. See all of the statewide limits wildlife.utah.gov Cedar City, UT 84721 nonnative fish were made in coordination with Wyoming to 435-865-6100 in the table on page 7. ensure consistency across the reservoir. See 70 Definitions page 30 for all of the rules specific to Flam- Changes to wiper and northern pike Washington County Field Office ing Gorge Reservoir. 451 N SR-318 limits: Starting in 2021, the statewide wiper limit will be three fish, and the statewide Hurricane, UT 84737 On the cover: Zoe White holds a smallmouth Change to bluegill limit at Pelican northern pike limit will be 20 fish, with only 435-879-8694 bass she caught at one of Utah’s Blue Ribbon Lake: Starting in 2021, you may keep a daily one over 36 inches. See the complete table of Fisheries, Flaming Gorge Reservoir. She caught limit of 15 bluegill at Pelican Lake, but only five statewide fishing limits on page 7. wildlife.utah.gov it while fishing with her dad, Rick. 2 3 of those fish may be longer than 7 inches. See Learn more about the key physical differences Quagga mussel threat: Quagga mussels • Utah Fishing KNOW THE LAWS page 36 for the rules specific to Pelican Lake. between these two species in the article on continue to spread within Lake Powell, and This guidebook summarizes Utah’s 2021 page 44. inspection technicians are regularly finding fishing laws and rules. Although it is a Change to panfish limit at Red Fleet quagga mussels on and in boats that have convenient quick-reference document for Reservoir: At Red Fleet Reservoir in 2021, Learn about Blue Ribbon Fisheries: only been in Lake Powell for a day or two. For Utah fishing regulations, it is not an all- you may keep a daily limit of up to 50 bluegill, Utah’s Blue Ribbon Fisheries include some of details on the situation at Lake Powell and encompassing resource. green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch the best places to fish in Utah. Learn more how you can help protect your boat, please see For an in-depth look at Utah’s fishing (a combined total), but no more than 20 of about how these waterbodies are selected and page 35 or click “Heading to Lake Powell?” 2021 laws and rules, visit wildlife.utah.gov/rules. those fish may be black crappie. See page 37 improved in the article on page 42. at stdofthesea.utah.gov. Utah Fishing • Utah Fishing You can use the references in this guide- for the rules specific to Red Fleet Reservoir. book—such as Utah Administrative Rule Help shape Utah’s future fishing regula- Corrections: If errors are found in the R657-13-6 and Utah Code § 23-20-3—to Change to panfish limit at Starvation tions: During the spring of 2022, the Division’s printed guidebook, the Division will search online for the detailed statute or rule Reservoir: At Starvation Reservoir in 2021, fisheries managers will be putting together correct them in the online version. Visit that underpins the guidebook summary. you may keep a daily limit of up to 20 bluegill, recommendations for Utah’s next two-year wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks to view all of the green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch If you have questions about a particular fishing regulation cycle, which will be in place Division’s guidebooks and proclamations. (a combined total). See page 39 for the rules rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2024. We specific to Starvation Reservoir. welcome your feedback and suggestions dur- Protection from discrimination: The Who makes the rules? ing this process. To review all of your feedback Division receives federal financial assistance Portion of Red Butte Creek open to The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules options, please see page 46. from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under fishing: Starting in 2021, a portion of Red Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section and laws summarized in this guidebook. Butte Creek in Salt Lake County will be open to There are seven board members, and Important reminders 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II fishing. For details, see page 37. of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, each serves a six-year term. Appointed by License purchase options: Fishing the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the governor, board members are not Divi- Tagged northern pike: If you catch a and combination licenses are available at the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. sion employees. tagged northern pike at Utah Lake, you must wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents and Department of the Interior and its bureaus The Division’s director serves as the release it back into the lake. Any untagged Division offices. You can also call 1-800-221- prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, board’s executive secretary but does not northern pike caught at Utah Lake must be 0659 to purchase your license by phone. The color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If have a vote on wildlife policies. killed immediately. For details, see page 40. line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a you believe that you have been discriminated Before board members make changes to week. (There’s an additional $2 transaction fee Seasonal closure changes: Changes to the against in any program, activity or facility, or wildlife rules, they listen to recommenda- for each item you buy over the phone.) seasonal closures in place at West Fork Duch- if you desire further information, please visit tions from Division biologists.