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 Waterbody Regulations

• Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

• Bluegill: See Panfish
• 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
• Channel catfish: See Catfish
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Crappies: See Panfish
• Flathead catfish: See Catfish
• Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass
• 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”
• Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
• 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
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
• Shortnose gar: Open all year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer
• Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply
• Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids
• Walleye, Saugers, 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