Bait
- While fishing it is illegal to use or possess live baitfish or tiger salamanders, live or dead. (guidebook p. 12)
- PowerBait and scented lures legally count as bait and cannot be used on bait-restricted waters. (guidebook p. 13)
- Corn is legal bait anywhere in Utah where bait is allowed. (guidebook p. 12)
- Dead or frozen saltwater species such as sardines and anchovies may be used on any water that allows bait. (guidebook p. 12)
- Dead mountain sucker, white sucker, Utah sucker, redside shiner, speckled dace, mottled sculpin, fathead minnow (including rosy reds), Utah chub and common carp may be used anywhere bait is allowed. (guidebook p. 12)
- Dead yellow perch may be used as bait only at a listed set of waters, including Deer Creek, Echo, Fish Lake, Jordanelle, Pineview, Starvation, Utah Lake, Willard Bay and Yuba. (guidebook p. 12)
- Live crayfish can be used as bait only on the water where they were caught, and live crayfish may not be carried away from that water. (guidebook p. 12)
- Dead fish of any kind, baitfish included, may not be taken from a water declared infested with an aquatic invasive species (such as quagga or zebra mussels) for use elsewhere. (guidebook p. 13)
Moving fish
- It is illegal to transport live fish or crayfish away from the water where they were caught. (guidebook p. 24)
- Releasing fish or crayfish into a different water is illegal stocking, which can bring criminal charges, license suspension and thousands of dollars in fines and restitution. (guidebook p. 23)
Other methods
- Setlines are allowed only on the Bear River below the Idaho line (including Cutler Reservoir and outlet canals), the Little Bear River below SR-30, the Malad River, Utah Lake and Yuba Reservoir. (guidebook p. 14)
- A setline angler may run one setline with no more than 8 hooks, must check it at least every 48 hours, must mark it with the permit number and may fish up to two poles at the same time. (guidebook p. 14)
- Chumming is illegal on every water except Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. (guidebook p. 13)
Rules summarized in our own words from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, with page numbers. DWR can change rules during the year: check wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks for updates. Buy licenses at wildlife.utah.gov/licenses.