Utah Fishing License 2026: Age 12 Rule, $120 Nonresident Fee, Lake Powell & Setline Rules
Utah fishing license 2026: age-12 rule, $40 resident/$120 nonresident fees, 3-day & 7-day options, Lake Powell dual-license rule, setline waters, official DWR links.
Utah requires a fishing or combination license starting at age 12; anglers 11 and younger fish free with no license, including the right to use two poles, a setline, and take a full daily limit. The adult nonresident 365-day fishing license is $120, and the resident version is $40 — but for a single weekend or one-week trip, the 3-day ($44 nonresident / $19 resident) or 7-day ($91 nonresident / $30 resident) options are usually the better buy before defaulting to annual.
All prices below come from the official 2026 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Fishing Guidebook and the DWR fees page, current as of this writing.
Utah Age 12 and Lake Powell Rules
| Topic | What to check |
|---|---|
| Age 12 cutoff | Under 12 fish free with no license; 12+ needs a fishing or combination license. |
| Free Fishing Day | Saturday, June 6, 2026 — no license needed statewide, but all other rules (limits, methods) still apply. |
| Lake Powell agreement | A valid Utah or Arizona fishing/combination license (resident or nonresident) covers both states’ portions of the reservoir; you still follow the regulations of the state where you’re actually fishing, and only one daily limit applies even with both licenses. |
| Flaming Gorge is different | Not the same rule as Lake Powell. Utah/Wyoming residents need their home-state license plus a $59 reciprocal permit to cross into the other side. Nonresidents of both states must buy full nonresident licenses from both Utah and Wyoming — one license does not cover both states here. |
| Setline permit | Only legal on five specific waters — Bear River (below the Idaho line, including Cutler Reservoir and outlet canals), Little Bear River (below SR-30), Malad River, Utah Lake, and Yuba Reservoir. Requires an unexpired fishing/combination license plus the setline permit. |
| Card checkout fee | DWR charges a 2.2% processing fee on all online and in-person credit/debit transactions — factor this into your total. |
2026 Utah Price Rows
Use the Utah DWR fees page and the 2026 Fishing Guidebook PDF for live totals and any emergency updates.
| Product | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 365-day fishing, ages 11 and younger | Not required | Not required | Can use two poles, a setline, and take a full daily limit without any license. |
| 365-day fishing, ages 12-13 | $5 | $18 | |
| 365-day fishing, ages 14-17 | $16 | $44 | |
| 365-day fishing, ages 18-64 | $40 | $120 | Adult annual row. |
| 365-day fishing, ages 65+ | $31 | $120 | Resident senior discount does not transfer to nonresidents. |
| 365-day fishing, disabled veteran | $12 | Resident only; requires 20%+ service-connected disability rating. | |
| 3-day fishing | $19 | $44 | All ages. |
| 7-day fishing | $30 | $91 | All ages. |
| Multi-year fishing (up to 5 yrs), ages 18-64 | $39/year | $119/year | Real savings are small — nonresident multi-year is only $1/year cheaper than annual, so it mainly avoids repeat checkout, not cost. |
| Setline permit | $22 | $48 | Requires a valid fishing/combination license; only legal on the five listed waters above. |
| Flaming Gorge reciprocal permit | $59 | For Wyoming residents fishing the Utah side (or vice versa via Wyoming); not a substitute for a full nonresident license. | |
| Combination license (fish + small game hunt), ages 18-64 | $44 | $190 | |
| Combination license, ages 65+ | $35 | $190 |
*Prices are base fee rows current for 2026. A 2.2% card-processing fee applies at online and in-person checkout. Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge cross-state rules should still be confirmed against the current guidebook before a trip. *
FAQs
Do I need both Arizona and Utah licenses for Lake Powell?
No. A valid Utah or Arizona fishing or combination license — resident or nonresident — covers both states’ portions of Lake Powell, as long as you follow the regulations for whichever side you’re actually fishing. Only one daily limit applies even if you hold both licenses.
What age starts Utah fishing licensing?
Under 12, you fish free with no license and can even use two poles or a setline. At 12 and older, you need a fishing or combination license, unless it’s Free Fishing Day (June 6, 2026) or you qualify for a youth-group exemption (age 15 and younger, organized events only).
When does a Utah visitor beat the $120 annual?
A single long weekend fits the nonresident 3-day license at $44; a one-week trip fits the 7-day at $91. Only multiple separate trips in one year make the $120 annual the cleaner buy — the multi-year option barely undercuts it.
Does Utah publish a separate trout stamp?
No. The 2026 guidebook does not list a separate ordinary trout stamp; trout are covered under the standard fishing or combination license and the statewide trout/kokanee/grayling combined daily limit of 4.
Is the Flaming Gorge rule the same as Lake Powell?
No — this is a common mix-up. Lake Powell lets one license (Utah or Arizona) cover both sides. Flaming Gorge instead requires Utah/Wyoming residents to add a $59 reciprocal permit, and requires true nonresidents of both states to buy full licenses from both Utah and Wyoming.
Guides
Lake Powell Fishing License 2026: Arizona vs Utah Rules
Lake Powell fishing license rules: one valid Arizona or Utah license can cover the reservoir, but state regulations follow your location.
Updated August 19, 2026
Utah Fishing License 2026: Nonresident $120 Fee
Current Utah DWR fishing license rules for 2026: under-12 free, resident and nonresident 365-day fees, short-term options, and combo licenses.
Updated August 18, 2026