Anglers planning an afternoon of fishing at Yellowstone National Park will need to change their plans as hot, dry weather continues across the region. High water temperatures and low stream flows have created dangerous conditions for the park’s trout.
Beginning Wednesday, July 29, fishing on all park rivers and streams will be prohibited daily from 2 p.m. until sunrise the following morning. The restrictions are intended to protect Yellowstone’s native and wild trout fisheries.
The new rules expand restrictions that were already in place on several rivers after water temperatures reached levels that can be fatal to trout. The Madison and Firehole rivers remain fully closed, along with the Gibbon River downstream of Norris Campground.
Yellowstone Lake and other park lakes will remain open to fishing from sunrise to sunset under the park’s regular fishing regulations. Most rivers and streams can also still be fished between sunrise and 2 p.m.
Most Rivers Can Still Be Fished in the Morning
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According to the National Park Service, the strictest rules continue to apply to three river systems. However, several waterways remain completely closed throughout the day.
The Madison and Firehole rivers and their tributaries have been fully closed since July 15. The Gibbon River and its associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground are also closed until further notice.
Water temperatures throughout Yellowstone have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days, while flows on many rivers have fallen below long-term averages. Park officials said those conditions are extremely stressful for fish and can be fatal.
When the full closures took effect earlier in July, daytime temperatures on some waterways had reached between 80 and 86 degrees. Dead fish had also been reported in the Firehole River.
Anglers Are Asked to Handle Trout Carefully
Yellowstone officials are asking anyone who fishes during the cooler morning hours to land fish quickly and avoid playing hooked trout to exhaustion. Anglers should handle fish gently and keep them in the water as much as possible. Fish should also be given time to recover before they are released.
Park staff will continue monitoring water temperatures and stream flows. The current closures do not have a set ending date and will remain in place until conditions improve.
Additional restrictions could be added if the hot and dry weather continues. Officials said that following the current rules and handling trout carefully may help prevent the need to close more rivers and streams completely.