2026 Fishing with the Fox Contest
About this Event
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, in partnership with Vernal's The Fox 98.5 FM radio station, holds this annual family-friendly fishing contest to encourage anglers — local and far — to fish at designated Uintah Basin waterbodies. Grab your fishing tackle, make sure to bring along your valid Utah fishing or combination license (for anglers aged 12 and older) and get outside for a fun day on the water. You could catch one of the hundreds of tagged rainbow trout and tiger trout stocked in the Uintah Basin!
Where to catch tagged contest fish
Fish at these three lakes stocked in 2026 with tagged fish:
- - Daggett County (tiger trout)
- - Duchesne County (rainbow trout)
- - Uintah County (rainbow trout)
What to do if you catch a tagged fish
This year, the trout are tagged with a yellow tag that says '2026 DWR WIN' with a corresponding number from 001-550.
- Tags can be registered and turned in starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 25 through Aug. 2, 11:59 p.m.
- You must have possession of the physical yellow tag to win. You can catch-and-keep any fish with the tag or catch-and-release the tagged fish. If you choose catch-and-release fishing, please swiftly pull or clip the tag from the fish, then release it.
- Register for the contest. Register here on this Eventbrite page to enter your contest registration information; once registered for the contest, you'll be prompted to print out or download the "tagged fish registration ticket," which must accompany all tags submitted.*
*If you do not have a printer, call the Vernal DWR office at 435-781-9453 (or visit during office hours), and staff will assist you with getting your tag(s) registered. Once tags and registration tickets are received, a confirmation email will be sent from the DWR to the registered party's email address confirming your entry for the grand prize finale.
How to register your tag
All tags must be registered by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 2 and received by the DWR no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2026 to ensure you are entered for the 'Alive After Five' grand finale prize drawing! The prize drawing will occur on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at the Uintah County Library park (204 E. 100 North, Vernal).
You must be present to win OR register an alternative person to represent you at the grand prize drawing.
- If you haven't already, register here on this Eventbrite page to enter your contest registration information. Once registered for the contest, you'll be prompted to print out or download the "tagged fish registration ticket" which must accompany all tags submitted.*
- Submit your tagged fish registration ticket and physically turn in the yellow tag for verification. Important: Make sure your tag is secured to the registration ticket somehow — use staples, tape or place them in a ziplock bag.
- There are several ways you can turn in your tag and registration:
- Option 1: Mail in your tagged fish registration ticket and attached yellow tag (both must be included). Attn: Fishing with the Fox contest, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 318 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal, UT 84078
- Option 2: Drop off your tagged fish registration ticket and attached yellow tag (both must be included). Stop by the Vernal DWR office lobby during office hours (M-F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) or Stewart’s Ace (245 US-40, Roosevelt) gun counter and drop off your tagged fish registration ticket and attached yellow tag in a designated "Fishing with the Fox" dropbox. Remember to make sure your tag is firmly secured somehow — by staples, tape or sealed in a ziplock bag.
- Option 3: Email your fish registration ticket and then mail or bring in your yellow tag.
- Screenshot or download your completed fish registration ticket and email it to: [email protected] or [email protected] , then
- mail the numbered yellow tag (along with your name, phone number and email address) to the Vernal DWR office — Attn: Fishing with the Fox contest, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 318 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal, UT 84078
- or turn in your yellow tag (along with your name and email address) at the Vernal DWR office lobby during office hours (M-F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
The deadline to register your tag is Aug. 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Prizes and awards
Join us Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 from 6–8 p.m. for the prize drawing!
All tags registered are automatically entered for the 'Alive After Five' grand finale prize drawing! The prize drawing will occur on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at the Uintah County Library park (204 E. 100 North, Vernal).
You must be present to win OR register an alternative person to represent you at the grand prize drawing.
Even if you don't catch a tagged fish, going fishing at one of the three designated locations will get you a stamp in the 2026 Uintah County Dinosaurland Passport to Summer!
All state fishing rules and regulations apply
Reminder: Utah fishing rules and regulations apply throughout the contest.
- You must possess a valid Utah fishing or combination license if you are 12 or older. Children ages 12-17 get a discounted rate on their license. You may purchase or renew your Utah fishing license at any DWR office, online or at a licensed vendor.
- All bag and possession limits apply; please see the current for details.
- See the DWR website for more information on fishing regulations, and download the Utah Hunting and Fishing app to store your license on your mobile device.
- Check on conditions, regulations, fishing reports and emergency closures specific to any Utah waterbody by visiting the Fish Utah interactive map.
Thank you to participating sponsors
- Wildlife Conservation Foundation
- Basin Recycling
- Heaton Tire and Wheel
- Mort's Car Wash
- Red Mountain Cycle
- Stewart's Marketplace/Ace Hardware
- The Fox 98.5 radio station
- Special Service District 1 - The Recreation Center
- Basin Sports
- Spirit Lake Lodge
Please watch your email and follow the DWR on social media for the latest updates.
Directions to participating waterbodies:
Spirit Lake: From Vernal, go north on U.S. Highway 191 (Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway) for 34 miles. Continue straight (north) onto UT-44 for 14 miles. Turn left onto W. 3240 South/W. Sheep Creek Geological Loop for 3.1 miles (FR 218). Follow the U.S. Forest Service signs to Hickerson Road(FR 221), take a quick left-then-right jog, and follow Hickerson Road/FR 221 for 10.7 miles. At the Spirit Lake sign, turn left onto FR 001. Follow FR 001 for 6 miles until you reach your destination. Spirit Lake Lodge is located at the southwest end of the lake which has cabins, watercraft rentals and a small general store.
Big Sand Wash Reservoir: From Duchesne, Utah: Take Highway 191 east for 9.7 miles and turn north on S 12000 W. Continue for 7.8 miles and turn left onto UT 87 for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto 250 N and continue 1.2 miles to the reservoir. From Vernal, take Highway 191 for 35 miles to the UT-87 turnoff in Roosevelt. Proceed 13 miles to the reservoir.
East Park Reservoir: From Vernal, take U.S. Highway 191 north for 19.4 miles. Turn left into East Park/Red Cloud Loop Road and continue for 8.5 miles. Turn right on the East Park road and continue onto the reservoir.
Contact us
For more information about this event, please contact the DWR event organizers:
Anthony Christianson | 435-828-0008 | [email protected]
Tonya Kieffer-Selby | 801-995-2972 | [email protected]
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
