Yellowstone Lake

Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Species Regulations

• Bowfin: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
• Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
• Cisco And Whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
• Lake Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
• Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15”-18”, and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12”-15”.
• Longnose Gar: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
• Muskellunge And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
• Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
• Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
• Rock, Yellow, And White Bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Rough Fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
• Round Goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
• Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
• Shortnose Gar: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
• Shovelnose Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
• Trout: See specific regulations: See Trout Regulations
• Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15”-18”, and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12”-15”.
• White Perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.