Flaming Gorge Fishing
Lake Trout & Kokanee Management
Planning a fishing trip to Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming? Learn about the latest lake trout and burbot regulations, kokanee salmon updates, and tips for a successful harvest.
Flaming Gorge Fishing: Lake Trout, Kokanee, and Burbot Updates
Trophy lake trout and kokanee salmon populations
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a premier destination for kokanee salmon and trophy lake trout. However, the fishery is currently facing a challenge: an overabundance of small lake trout (under 25 inches). This increase in small predators, combined with reservoir drawdowns, led to a decline in the kokanee salmon population. The decline in kokanee and other trout also resulted in leaner trophy lake trout.
To protect the trophy potential of the Gorge, we encourage anglers to target and harvest smaller lake trout to reduce competition, help kokanee and other trout rebound, and therefore provide more forage (food) for trophy lake trout to grow.
Burbot in the Green River Drainage
Since their illegal introduction in the late 1990s, burbot have significantly impacted the Green River Drainage. These voracious predators compete with native species and have permanently changed area management.
- Burbot Harvest Regulations: There are no limits on burbot in Area 4. This includes:
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir
- Fontenelle Reservoir
Big Sandy Reservoir
Ice Fishing for Burbot: Burbot fishing has become a popular winter activity. Ice anglers are a vital part of our management strategy—every burbot harvested helps suppress these nonnative predators and protects our local fish populations.
Flaming Gorge Fishing & Lake Trout Management
Lake Trout are designated as a nongame fish
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Flaming Gorge Fishing Tips, Maps, and Recipes
Expert Tips for Lake Trout Fishing at Flaming Gorge
Maintaining a healthy balance in Flaming Gorge starts with angler harvest. Catching and keeping small lake trout directly protects the trophy lake trout and kokanee salmon populations.
- Best Lures for Flaming Gorge: Use 2–3 inch tubes, jigs, or spoons tipped with small pieces of cut bait.
- Effective Depth for fishing Flaming Gorge: Look for schools of small lake trout in 50–100 feet of water near steep rocky slopes or "flats" adjacent to the main channel.
Burbot Fishing Strategy
Angler harvest is the most effective tool for managing the burbot population.
- Night Fishing: Burbot are most active after dark. Plan your trips for late evening or nighttime for the best results.
- Tackle Tips: Use glow-in-the-dark jigs (heavy enough to stay on the bottom) tipped with fresh cut bait.
- Ice Fishing: Burbot are highly active under the ice; look for them on rocky points and shelves 20–50 feet deep.
Flaming Gorge Fishing Spots: Best Locations and Maps
Finding fish is easier with the right data. Our location guide features Navionics ChartViewer clips with color-coded markers highlighting "hot spots" where anglers consistently catch burbot and lake trout.
- Blue Circles: lake trout locations.
Yellow Circles: burbot locations.
Delicious Lake Trout & Burbot Recipes
Small lake trout and burbot are excellent table fare. Burbot is often called "Poor Man's Lobster" for its firm, white meat.
- Lake Trout: Perfect for smoking, grilling with lemon-butter, or pan-searing.
- Burbot: Best when boiled in sugar-water (lobster style) or deep-fried in a light beer batter.
Flaming Gorge Fishing: Frequently Asked Questions
Regulations & Limits
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Answer
As of October 1, 2024 (Wyoming) and January 1, 2025 (Utah), anglers can harvest an unlimited number of lake trout less than 28 inches. To protect the trophy fishery, you are limited to only one lake trout 28 inches and over in your possession. Additionally, "wanton waste" rules no longer apply to lake trout less than 28 inches, allowing for legal disposal if you do not wish to consume them.
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Answer
No. There is no limit on burbot in Area 4, which includes places like Flaming Gorge and Fontenelle reservoirs. Because burbot are an aggressive nonnative species, Game and Fish and UDWR encourage maximum angler harvest year-round to protect native fish and sportfish populations.
Fishery Management & Ecology
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Answer
The decline in Flaming Gorge kokanee salmon is primarily due to an overabundance of small lake trout (under 25 inches) that prey on young salmon. Reservoir drawdowns can also reduce their habitat. Reducing the number of predators is essential to restoring trout populations.
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Answer
No. The goal is not to eradicate lake trout but to restore balance. By harvesting small lake trout, anglers help ensure there is enough food (forage) for the remaining fish to grow into trophy lake trout. Our management plan protects the trophy component by limiting the harvest of fish 28 inches and larger.
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Answer
On October 1, 2024, lake trout were reclassified as a nongame species in Area 4 to allow for aggressive management. This change enabled unlimited harvest and removed wanton waste restrictions, empowering anglers and fishing tournaments to more effectively reduce the predator population.
Trophy Potential & Growth
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Answer
Actually, the opposite is true. Currently, lake trout at Flaming Gorge are growing much more slowly due to high competition for food. Harvesting small lake trout leaves more food for the remaining fish, allowing them to reach trophy sizes faster.
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Answer
Lake trout are highly resilient and can survive long periods with little food. This is known as predatory inertia. They will not "die off" naturally even if their food source (kokanee) disappears; instead, they will continue to suppress the fishery unless they are actively removed.
Angler Observations
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Answer
While some anglers report fewer fish in traditional areas, decades of netting data show an unsustainable surge in lake trout under 17 inches reservoir-wide. These fish often school in specific habitats, such as near cliffs or in the Inflow region near Buckboard. Game and Fish uses long-term datasets to ensure that management decisions reflect the health of the entire reservoir.