Beginning July 29, fishing on every river and stream in Yellowstone NP is prohibited daily from 2 p.m. until sunrise the following morning. Rivers and streams will remain open from sunrise until 2 p.m., while Yellowstone Lake and the park’s other lakes remain open from sunrise to sunset.
Park officials said that water temperatures have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days, while flows on many rivers have dropped below long-term averages. Warm water carries less oxygen and places additional stress on cold-water fish, particularly when trout are caught, handled, and released.
Existing Full Closures Remain in Place
The new restrictions expand a series of closures Yellowstone began implementing earlier this month.
On July 9, the park restricted afternoon fishing on portions of the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers. Those restrictions became full closures on July 15 after daytime water temperatures reached 80 to 86 degrees. Park officials also received reports of dead fish in the Firehole River.
The Madison and Firehole rivers and their tributaries remain completely closed. The Gibbon River and its tributaries downstream of Norris Campground are also closed at all hours.
Yellowstone officials said the afternoon restrictions and full river closures will remain in place until conditions improve. Staff will continue monitoring water temperatures, stream flows, and weather forecasts.
The Trend of Summer Fishing Restrictions Continues
Yellowstone has restricted fishing during hot, low-water conditions several times in recent years. The park closed the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers during portions of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. It also imposed a park-wide afternoon fishing restriction during exceptionally low flows in 2021.
This spring, Yellowstone opened portions of the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers on May 1, several weeks ahead of the park’s standard fishing season. Officials said the earlier opening would give anglers more opportunities before rising summer temperatures made additional restrictions necessary.
Anglers can continue fishing most Yellowstone rivers and streams before 2 p.m., but the Madison, Firehole, and lower Gibbon will remain off-limits until conditions improve.
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