Almost every fish that resides in the United States and Canada has specific rules and regulations about how and when it can be targeted and harvested. Trout are no exception. While not every state has a trout population, those that do have specific regulations anglers must obey.
In the states and provinces with trout fishing rules and regulations, anglers generally have a season they must target these fish within if they hope to harvest them. Some other rules and regulations include barbless hooks and no live bait. Generally, specific waters will have more specific rules.
Keep in mind that certain waters are catch & release only and artificial lures only. The water access points should be labeled appropriately. The following paragraphs provide anglers with more specifics about the trout rules and regulations within all 50 United States and the Canadian provinces.
United States
1. Alabama
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year-round
Fishing License: Required for 15 years & older
2. Alaska
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year-round
Fishing License: Required for 16 years & older
3. Arizona
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: May 1 through December 31
Fishing License: Required for 10 years & older
4. Arkansas
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 15 & older
5. California
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 30 to November 15
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
6. Colorado
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 1 to March 31
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
7. Connecticut
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round for tidal waters and lower rivers. April 9 to February 28 in ponds, rivers, streams and lakes
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
8. Delaware
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 1 to June 30 and October 5 to November 30
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
9. Florida
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Closed February
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
10. Georgia
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: One pole and line, artificial lure, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
11. Hawaii
No trout in Hawaii
12. Idaho
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 14 years & older
13. Illinois
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 1-December 15
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
14. Indiana
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Last Saturday in April – December
Fishing license: Required for 17 years & older
15. Iowa
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
16. Kansas
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: November 1 to April 15
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
17. Kentucky
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round. Certain streams are October 1 to March 31
Fishing license: Required for 12 years & older
18. Louisiana
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 18 years & older
19. Maine
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 1 to August 15. August 16 to September 30 artificial lures or flies only
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
20. Maryland
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
21. Massachusetts
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 10 years & older
22. Michigan
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round. Certain streams are open April 1-October 31
Fishing license: Required for 17 years & older
23. Minnesota
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 15-October 31
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
24. Mississippi
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
25. Missouri
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Mostly year round. Designated trout parks catch-and-release November to March
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
26. Montana
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round. Rivers & streams in Western and Central Districts is from May 15 to December 1
Fishing license: Required for 11 years & older
27. Nebraska
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
28. Nevada
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line (no more than 3 baited hooks at a time), artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 12 years & older
29. New Hampshire
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line (no more than 3 baited hooks at a time), artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Rivers & Streams: January 1 – October 15. Wild Trout Streams: January 1- Labor Day. Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April – October 15. Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April -Labor Day. All other waters: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
30. New Jersey
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 1-March 20
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
31. New Mexico
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year Round
Fishing license: Required for 12 years & older
32. New York
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Brown, brook, and rainbow trout season is April 1 to October 15 in the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and Lake Champlain. Inland trout streams catch-and-keep season is April 1 to October 15. Inland trout streams catch-and-release is October 16-March 31
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
33. North Carolina
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Wild trout waters are artificial lures only, hatchery waters live bait is okay, hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Designated mountain trout waters season October 1 to June 2. Hatchery waters are closed in March. All other water is year-round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
34. North Dakota
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round. Lightning Lake is catch-and-release only from April 1 through June 30
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
35. Ohio
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
36. Oklahoma
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
37. Oregon
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Central Zone streams are open from May 22-October 31 and lakes are open year-round
Fishing license: Required for 11 years & older
38. Pennsylvania
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 2 to September 5 for regular trout season. Extended trout fishing season from September 6-February 20
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
39. Rhode Island
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: April 11 to February 29. No trout can be harvested from March 1 to April 10
Fishing license: Required for 14 years & older
40. South Carolina
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: November 1-May 14 is catch-and-release in Chattooga River. Most other are waters year-round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
41. South Dakota
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 18 years & older
42. Tennessee
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Certain waters have specific trout fishing seasons. All other water is open year round
Fishing license: Required for 12 years & older
43. Texas
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 17 years & older
44. Utah
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 11 years & older
45. Vermont
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Second Saturday of April through October 31
Fishing license: Required for 14 years & older
46. Virginia
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
47. Washington
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Lakes and reservoirs are open year round. Streams, rivers and beaver ponds are open Memorial day to October 31
Fishing license: Required for 14 years & older
48. West Virginia
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 14 years & older
49. Wisconsin
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Early inland waters season January 1 to May 6. Inland waters are open from May 7 to October 15. Lake Michigan lake trout season is March 1 to October 31. Lake Superior is from December 1 to September 30
Fishing license: Required for 15 years & older
50. Wyoming
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, live bait, troll
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 13 years & older
Canada
1. Alberta
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
2. British Columbia
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
3. Manitoba
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
4. New Brunswick
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
5. Newfounland
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
6. Nova Scotia
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: April 1 to September 30
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
7. Ontario
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Fourth Saturday in April to September 30
Fishing license: Required for 18 years & older
8. Prince Edward Island
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: April 15 to September 30. Extended Season October 1 to December 31
Fishing license: Required for 16 years & older
9. Quebec
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: Year round
Fishing license: Required for 18 years & older
10. Saskatchewan
Legal Ways to Catch Trout: Hook and line, artificial lure, must use barbless hooks
Season: May 5- March 31 (Southern Zone). May 15-March 31 (Central Zone). May 25-April 15 (Northern Zone)
Fishing license: Required for people between 16 & 65 years old
Special Regulations
Some of the common special trout regulations anglers will find are barbless hook only as well as fly fishing only.
It’s not a bad idea to only target trout with barbless hooks due to the sensitivities of their jaw, but make sure you bring a pair of pliers along on your trout trips in case the water requires barbless hooks.
Another example is that often there are limits on how much trout you can catch.
Fly fishing only waters will be accurately marked. Generally, fly fishing only waters are only a small part of the season or in unique areas like national parks and national wildlife refuges.
Most access points should be appropriately marked with specific regulations. However, it’s still a smart idea to check with any local bait shops or the local game and fish department officer.
They’re going to be able to provide the most up to date information on the current fishing conditions as well as any special regulations that may be in place.
Trout populations are volatile, so regulations are known to change each season and occasionally in the middle of the season, so be prepared.
Conclusion
Throughout many states within America and provinces in Canada, there are different rules and regulations that anglers must follow when it comes to fishing for trout.
Whether it’s a specific time of year or a certain bait that’s allowed, anglers must pay close attention to when and where it’s legal to fish for trout.
Plus, many states and provinces will have specific waters that have their own set of rules and regulations.
Due to the volatility of trout, states and provinces have to be very specific in what rules and regulations are created.