Northern pike in Utah
Northern pike in Utah: daily limits dated by guidebook, water exceptions and record entries.
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What DWR says about Northern pike
Starting January 1, 2027, the Utah default for northern pike is the "Northern pike" row: 20, only 1 over 36 inches a day. That matches the 2026 guidebook, which stays in effect until December 31, 2026.
Fish Utah lists it on 10 waters with pages here; DWR rates it likely at 2 of them. The guidebook prints 14 water entries naming it, Colorado River for one. Utah keeps 2 record entries for it.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
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| Statewide row | 2027 daily | 2026 daily | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | 20, only 1 over 36 inches | same |
The limits here are from the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which takes effect January 1, 2027; the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook stays in force through December 31, 2026 and differs only where a row says so.
Two daily limits may be on hand, fish at home excluded, and only one at Flaming Gorge.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-19), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Special Utah rules for northern pike
| Water as printed | County | Rule lines | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River | Garfield, Grand, San Juan and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Colorado River tributaries | Garfield, Grand and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Dmad Reservoir | Millard County | (NEW) Limit 40 northern pike, only two may be over 36 inches. | NEW 2027 |
| Green River | Carbon, Daggett, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Green River tributaries | Carbon, Duchesne, Emery and Uintah counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Gunnison Bend Reservoir | Millard County | (NEW) Limit 40 northern pike, only two may be over 36 inches. | NEW 2027 |
| Provo River | Summit, Utah and Wasatch counties | No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Provo River Delta | Utah County | No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Redmond Lake | Sevier County | (NEW) Limit 40 northern pike, only two may be over 36 inches. | NEW 2027 |
| San Juan River | San Juan County | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| San Juan River tributaries | San Juan County | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Sevier River | Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sevier, Sanpete, Juab and Millard counties | (NEW) Limit 40 northern pike, only two may be over 36 inches. | NEW 2027 |
| Utah Lake | Utah County | No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Utah Lake tributaries | Utah County | No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed. | both editions |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 35-58 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Where Utah's record northern pike came from
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch and keep (by weight) | 26 lbs. 1 oz. | 45 ½" | Yuba Reservoir | 2013 | |
| Catch and release (by length) | – | 49 ¾" | Lake Powell | 1998 |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Utah reservoirs and streams naming northern pike
The labels are DWR's, quoted from the planner, plus stocked where a hatchery row appears; none is a promise of fish.
- Recapture ReservoirDWR: likely; San Juan County
- Yuba Reservoir & State ParkDWR: likely; Sanpete County
- Lake PowellDWR: possible; Kane County
- Green River Below Flaming Gorge DamDWR: possible; Daggett County
- Green River in southeastern UtahDWR: possible; Grand County
- Colorado RiverDWR: possible; Grand County
- Gunnison Bend and DMAD ReservoirsDWR: possible; Millard County
- Utah LakeDWR: invasive species; Utah County
- Green River in northeastern UtahDWR: invasive species; Uintah County
- Lower Provo River (Center Street Bridge to I-15)DWR: invasive species; Utah County
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Wasatch and red rock water near Northern pike, on camera
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Before a Utah Northern pike outing
Which Utah limit covers northern pike?
Starting January 1, 2027, the Utah default for northern pike is the "Northern pike" row: 20, only 1 over 36 inches a day. That matches the 2026 guidebook, which stays in effect until December 31, 2026.
Where in Utah is the northern pike limit different?
The guidebook prints 14 water entries naming it, Colorado River for one.
What does the DWR record book show for northern pike?
26 lbs. 1 oz. out of Yuba Reservoir in 2013, a catch and keep (by weight) record.
Which Utah reservoirs list northern pike?
Try Recapture Reservoir, Yuba Reservoir & State Park and Lake Powell, among 10 pages.
Is northern pike catch-and-release in Utah?
Utah does not make it release-only statewide.
What Utah license covers a day after northern pike?
Anglers 12 and older need a Utah fishing license; both the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks print $40 for a resident 365-day adult license and $120 for a nonresident.
Who keeps the Utah northern pike record?
Records go to DWR through its online page, one table per method.
What does Utah's two-limit possession rule mean for northern pike?
The guidebook defines possession as two limits; the Flaming Gorge rule cuts it to one.