What Fish Are in Wyoming?

Quick Answer

Wyoming waters include trout, salmon, grayling, bass, walleye, perch, catfish, pike, burbot, and many native nongame fish. The best-known sport fish include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and yellow perch.

The exact fish available depends on the water. Use Wyoming Game and Fish Department tools before a trip because species lists, limits, seasons, stocking, and special regulations vary by lake, river, drainage, and access point.

Fish group	Common Wyoming examples	What to verify
Native trout	Yellowstone, Snake River, Bonneville, and Colorado River cutthroat trout	Special conservation and harvest rules
Introduced trout	Rainbow, brown, brook, and lake trout	Water-specific limits and seasons
Salmon and grayling	Kokanee salmon, Arctic grayling	Stocking and special water rules
Warmwater sport fish	Walleye, bass, perch, catfish, crappie	Reservoir-specific limits
Nongame and native fish	Suckers, dace, sculpin, chubs	Identification and protected status

Decision Table

Step	Question	Action
1	Which Wyoming water will you fish?	Search the exact lake, river, or reservoir in WGFD tools
2	Which species are present there?	Review official species and stocking information
3	Do you need a Wyoming fishing license?	Check age, residency, and license rules
4	Are special regulations listed for that water?	Verify limits, seasons, bait, and gear
5	Are you in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, tribal land, or federal water?	Check the managing agency’s rules
6	Will you transport a boat or watercraft?	Check aquatic invasive species requirements

Common Sport Fish in Wyoming

Wyoming has coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater fisheries. Anglers commonly plan around:

• Cutthroat trout.
• Rainbow trout.
• Brown trout.
• Brook trout.
• Lake trout.
• Kokanee salmon.
• Arctic grayling.
• Walleye.
• Yellow perch.
• Smallmouth and largemouth bass.
• Channel catfish.
• Northern pike and tiger muskie where present.
• Burbot in some waters.

This list is not a guarantee for every water. A high mountain lake, a prairie reservoir, and a large river can have very different species.

License and Regulation Basics

Most anglers need a Wyoming fishing license unless an official exemption applies. A license does not replace water-specific rules. Before fishing, check:

• Daily and possession limits.
• Minimum or maximum size limits.
• Seasons and closures.
• Bait and tackle restrictions.
• Native cutthroat conservation rules.
• Aquatic invasive species rules.
• Park, tribal, or federal requirements.

Official Source Checklist

Use these official sources before fishing:

Source	What to verify
Wyoming Game and Fish fishing page	License rules, fishing information, and official resources
Wyoming fishing regulations	Current statewide and water-specific regulations
Wyoming Fish Stocking Report	Recently stocked species and waters
Wyoming Cutt-Slam	Native cutthroat program and identification
Wyoming aquatic invasive species information	Boat inspection and prevention requirements

Common Mistakes

Assuming every Wyoming water is a trout water

Wyoming has excellent trout fishing, but many reservoirs also support walleye, bass, perch, catfish, and other species.

Trusting old stocking claims

Stocking and fish populations change. Use the current WGFD stocking report and water-specific information.

Ignoring cutthroat identification

Native cutthroat trout can have special conservation value and water-specific rules. Learn the species before keeping fish.

Forgetting park and tribal rules

Yellowstone, Grand Teton, tribal waters, and some federal areas can have rules separate from statewide Wyoming regulations.

Bottom Line

Wyoming has a broad mix of native trout, introduced trout, salmon, grayling, warmwater sport fish, and native nongame fish. Pick the exact water first, then verify species, license needs, and special regulations with Wyoming Game and Fish before fishing.