Overview
- Park officials announced that fishing on all Yellowstone rivers and streams will be closed daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise, a restriction that took effect Wednesday, July 29.
- The Firehole River, Madison River, and the lower Gibbon remain closed at all hours until water temperatures and flows improve, with park staff confirming dead fish on the Firehole.
- On-the-ground monitoring showed daytime water temperatures reaching between 80°F and 86°F while temperatures above about 68°F reduce dissolved oxygen and raise metabolic stress in trout.
- Lakes and stillwaters, including Yellowstone Lake, stay open from sunrise to sunset and moving water is open from sunrise until 2 p.m., with anglers advised to land fish quickly, keep them wet, and minimize handling.
- Park managers say the restrictions are temporary and will be driven by ongoing temperature and flow monitoring, and they warn that sustained heat or low flows could prolong closures in the coming weeks.