YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Yellowstone National Park (YNP) has announced additional fishing closures in the park due to warm water temperatures and low river flows.
Effective Friday, July 26, the following waterways will be closed daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the next day to protect the park’s trout:
- Lamar River downstream of Cache Creek to its confluence with the Yellowstone River
- Soda Butte Creek
- Slough Creek
- Yellowstone River from Tower Junction north to the park boundary
- Gardner River downstream of Osprey Falls north to the park boundary
- Snake River from Forest Creek south to the park boundary
According to the park’s announcement, water temperatures in these rivers and creeks cool down overnight, making fishing for part of the day possible.
The Madison River, Firehole River and Gibbon River (and its associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground) remain fully closed to anglers until further notice.
Lakes remain open to fishing, along with park rivers and streams not listed above.
According to YNP, warm conditions are “extremely stressful” for the park’s resident fish, and can be fatal. Water temperatures have topped 68 degrees Fahrenheit this month, and low flows have been measured in the park’s rivers, streams and creeks.
Anglers are asked to fish during the coolest times of the day, and to land fish quickly.
“Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion,” YNP advises. “Gently handle fish in the water as much as possible and let them recover before release. Your cooperation will protect the park’s fisheries.”
Learn more about fishing in the park here.
