YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Starting today, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) closed park waters to fishing in the afternoons due to high water temperatures and low stream flows.
YNP announced on Tuesday that all rivers and streams in the park will be closed to angling daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise. These restrictions come just two weeks after the park implemented full fishing closures on three rivers. Fishing will remain temporarily prohibited in the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) rivers.
Anglers can continue to fish in most park rivers and streams daily from sunrise to 2 p.m. Yellowstone Lake and other lakes will remain open to fishing from sunrise to sunset. View YNP’s 2026 Fishing Regulations booklet here.
“Water temperatures have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days, and flows on many rivers are below long-term averages,” YNP said in a news release. “These conditions are extremely stressful and can be fatal to fish.”
With hot and dry conditions expected to continue, the park anticipates further low stream flows and high water temperatures. Staff will continue monitoring water temperatures. Depending on conditions assessments, the closure could be lifted or additional restrictions and closures could be put in place.
“Anglers: Please fish during the coolest times of day and land fish quickly,” the park requests. “Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion. Gently handle fish in the water as much as possible and let them recover before release. Your cooperation will protect the park’s fisheries and may preclude the need to prohibit fishing at all times of the day on some rivers and streams if conditions worsen.”
