Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel

Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel, Box Elder County. Utah DWR's rules for this water from the 2026 Utah fishing guidebook, page 43, with the statewide limits and any emergency change in force, as of noon, October 28, 2026.

Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel

Box Elder County · Blue Ribbon fishery

Statewide: kokanee salmon may not be kept. Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 to protect kokanee during the spawning season. September 10 to November 30, 2026 · guidebook p. 5

Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel · guidebook p. 43

LimitLimit 10 crappie.

LimitLimit 15 yellow perch.

LimitLimit 6 walleye, only 1 walleye may be over 24 inches.

TacklePossession and use of commercially sold and preserved gizzard shad is allowed. Otherwise, possession of gizzard shad, dead or alive, is unlawful.

Statewide limits

Changed at this water. A rule above speaks to these fish, and UDWR's order is that "that rule takes precedence over the general rules." The statewide figure is printed beside each so you can see what the rule starts from. It is not the limit here unless the rule above leaves it alone.

Crappiesee the rule above, which names crappie	statewide: 50
Nongame speciessee the rule above, which names gizzard shad	statewide: No limit
Walleyesee the rule above, which names walleye	statewide: 10, only 1 over 24 inches
Yellow perchsee the rule above, which names yellow perch	statewide: 50

Unchanged here. No rule above names these fish, so the statewide limit applies.

Bluegill and green sunfish	50
Bonneville cisco	30
Bullhead	24
Burbot	No limit
Channel catfish	8
Crayfish	No limit
Largemouth and smallmouth bass	6
Northern pike	20, only 1 over 36 inches
Roundtail chub	2
Sacramento perch	10
Striped bass	No limit
Tiger muskellunge	1 over 40 inches
Trout, kokanee salmon and Arctic grayling	4
Whitefish	10
White bass	No limit
Wiper	3

Underwater spearfishing · guidebook pp. 19-21

Only if you spearfish. The guidebook names this water in its spearfishing section, as below. Its general rules for spearfishing follow.

Waterbodies open to spearfishing. Only the waters listed below are open to underwater spearfishing for game fish year-round. Unless otherwise noted, you may underwater spearfish to take any legal species within the daily limits, length limits and seasonal closures that apply to each waterbody.

Named asWillard Bay Reservoir, Box Elder Countyp. 19

General rules for spearfishing guidebook pp. 19-21

All fishing rules applyWhen spearfishing, you are subject to all of Utah’s fishing rules, regulations, daily limits and licensing requirements. In addition to the following information, carefully review Rules for specific waters beginning on page 28.p. 19

HoursUnderwater spearfishing may take place 24 hours a day where allowed.p. 19

Free shaftingFree shafting is prohibited.p. 19

Artificial lightImportant: It is illegal to use artificial light while underwater spearfishing with the following two exceptions:

If you’re underwater spearfishing for burbot or lake trout at Flaming Gorge.
If you’re underwater spearfishing for common carp or Utah chub anywhere in the state where spearfishing is allowed.

p. 19

Carp and Utah chubAt all waters open to fishing—during their open seasons—you can underwater spearfish for common carp and Utah chub, except for the Provo River and Provo River Delta.p. 19

Limits and closuresRemember: All possession limits and seasonal closures apply, regardless of the fishing technique you use. (This includes the statewide seasonal closure on kokanee salmon from Sept. 10 to Nov. 30.) Refer to the statewide Daily limits table on page 7.p. 19

Diver flagSCUBA divers are required to deploy the diver flag from the highest point of their boat, or from a buoy if not diving from a boat.

For safety purposes, it is highly recommended that anyone snorkeling, spearfishing or swimming in deeper waters should deploy a diver flag and use caution to stay within 150 feet of the flag.
Boaters are required to stay 150 feet away from this flag when it is deployed. It also signals to boaters that they should slow down and steer clear of the area to avoid people in the water.

p. 21

Places on this water

Willard Bay ReservoirBox Elder Co.

Rules are UDWR's own words from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook and its posted emergency changes. They are in force Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026. Species and stocking are UDWR's and are not rules. Not legal advice. The guidebook, the signed notices and signs posted at the water are the authority. Guidebook · Posted changes

Source: Utah Fishing Guidebook - 2026, page 43

Open this water in Ranger Hawk