EBS STAFF
Yellowstone National Park is closing several popular rivers to fishing every afternoon as warming water threatens the park’s trout, announced a press release from the National Park Service.
Effective Thursday, July 9, the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon rivers (downstream of Norris Campground) and their tributaries will close to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise, after water temperatures exceeded 68 F and low flows created conditions the park calls lethal to trout. With air temperatures forecast near 90 F in the coming days, staff will continue monitoring conditions and may lift the closure or add further restrictions as needed. The park is asking anglers to fish during the coolest parts of the day, land fish quickly and handle and release trout gently to protect the population.
Yellowstone Lake and other lakes remain open from sunrise to sunset under the 2026 fishing regulations, as do all rivers and streams not named in the closure. According to the release, staff will continue to monitor the water temperatures and the closure may be lifted, or additional restrictions and closures may be put in place depending on condition assessments.
