Arizona & Utah Announce Elimination Of $8 Utah Stamp To Fish Lake Powell

Fishing on Lake Powell will soon get a bit easier. On Friday, December 28, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced that starting January 1, 2019, an $8 Utah stamp will no longer be required to fish on Lake Powell.

What this means for anglers is that if you live in Utah or Arizona your fishing license from that state covers fishing throughout the entire lake. For anglers who don’t live in Utah or Arizona, they will have the ability to purchase one of the license options offered by either state and will be covered for the entire lake as well.

In January of 2014, Arizona waived a similar rule which required a $3 stamp to fish on Lake Powell.

In a notice from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Chris Cantrell, aquatic wildlife branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department stated “This change will be especially beneficial for anglers of Arizona. It’s and example of the collaboration between both of our state agencies.”

Please note, this change does not affect the daily bag and possession limits for each state. The same limits for each state will still apply.

“Utah and Arizona agree on the fishing rules and regulations and converse often on how to amend the rules as needed,” said Wayne Gustaveson, the primary fisheries biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). “The cooperation of the fish managers from both states makes fishing regulation compliance easier for all those who come to the lake to fish. Expect that cooperation and fishing insight to continue going forward as we face more challenges with the lack of water flowing into the lake.”

Lake Powell offers exceptional fishing for numerous sport-fish species including striped, smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as walleye.

“The simplification of this process will allow more anglers to enjoy this fantastic fishing that Lake Powell has to offer,” said Richard Hepworth, aquatics manager for DWR.

Anglers are reminded that Lake Powell is infested with invasive quagga mussels and must still comply with respective state laws for inspection and decontamination when exiting Lake Powell.

For more information about quagga mussels in Arizona, call the AZGFD Aquatic Invasive Species Program at 623-236-7608. For more information in Utah, visit http://stdofthesea.utah.gov/

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