YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park will close its streams and rivers to fishing in the afternoons due to high water temperature and unprecedented low stream flows, according to an announcement from the park today.
Effective Saturday, July 24, streams and rivers will close at 2 p.m. every afternoon and remain closed until sunrise. The closure is designed to protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries.
The closure will remain in effect until further notice.
Anglers can still fish from sunrise to 2 p.m. every day. Yellowstone Lake and other lakes will remain open to fishing from sunrise to sunset as specified in the Fishing Regulations booklet.
Water temperatures have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in recent days, and flows on many rivers are approaching historic lows. These conditions are extremely stressful and can be fatal to fish. The extended forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions with a slight chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorms, which contribute to continued low stream flows and high-water temperatures.
Anglers are asked to fish during the coolest times of day and land fish quickly — 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.
