Fishing Closures Announced in Yellowstone National Park
Park officials said water temperatures topped 68 degrees and low flows can be deadly for trout, prompting daily closures until sunrise.
- Effective Thursday, July 9, 2026, Yellowstone National Park restricted fishing on the Madison River, Firehole River, and Gibbon River daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise due to water temperatures exceeding 68 degrees and low river flows.
- Warm water conditions are lethal to trout, prompting the National Park Service to impose closures despite opening these fisheries earlier than usual this year to give anglers extended fishing opportunities.
- Anglers may fish affected areas during morning hours, while Yellowstone Lake and other non-restricted waters remain open from sunrise to sunset. Park staff ask anglers to land fish quickly and handle them gently to aid recovery.
- Park staff will continue monitoring water temperatures to determine whether closures should be lifted or expanded based on condition assessments. Forecasters expect air temperatures to reach near 90 degrees in the coming days, potentially intensifying stress on fish.
- These restrictions aim to protect the park's native and wild trout fisheries from lethal heat stress. Public cooperation in following angler guidelines is essential to safeguard these ecosystems until water conditions improve.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Rising temperatures prompt mandatory afternoon fishing closures in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is closing select rivers and streams to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise due to warm water temperatures and low river flows, in order to protect the park's native and wild trout fisheries.
Oil City News
Cap City NewsYellowstone limits angling hours for certain rivers due to warm waters, low flows
YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park announced Thursday that, due to persistent warm water conditions, it will close some rivers to fishing from 2 p.m. until sunrise the next day every day for an indefinite period. The closure will affect the following waterways: The Madison River and all associated tributaries The Firehole River and all associated tributaries The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campgro…
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
The Livingston EnterpriseToo hot to fish: YNP closes some angling spots due to warm temps
Warm water temperatures and low river flows have prompted Yellowstone National Park (YNP) to implement partial fishing closures on the Madison River and all associated tributaries; the Firehole River and all associated tributaries; and the Gibbon River and all associated…
Daily Montanan
The spokesman-ReviewYellowstone National Park begins fishing restrictions on some rivers
Looking downstream along the Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park, from the Midway Geyser bridge on the morning of June 13, 2026.(Photo by Fay Yocum, Yellowstone National Park.)Yellowstone National Park officials are enacting fishing restrictions on three rivers within the park due to warm temperatures and low river flows. Known as hoot owl restrictions, the partial closures prohibit fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day al…
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