Yellowstone National Park lifts fishing closures as temperatures cool

YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. (KIFI) - Good news for anglers heading into the final holiday weekend of summer.

Yellowstone National Park is lifting full fishing closures on the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon rivers beginning Friday, August 28.

The National Park Service says anglers can now fish those rivers and their associated tributaries from sunrise until 2 p.m. each day.

The rivers had been completely closed to fishing since July 15 because of low water flows and high water temperatures. Water temperatures exceeding 68 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous and potentially deadly for fish.

According to the park, cooler weather, lower water temperatures and precipitation in the current forecast have allowed the full closures to be lifted.

However, partial restrictions remain in place. Fishing on the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon rivers is prohibited from 2 p.m. until sunrise the following day.

The National Park Service says it will continue monitoring water temperatures and other conditions. Restrictions could be lifted further, or additional closures could be put in place depending on conditions.

Anglers are encouraged to fish during the coolest parts of the day, land fish quickly, and avoid playing hooked trout to exhaustion. The park also recommends keeping fish in the water as much as possible and allowing them to recover before release.

With Labor Day weekend approaching, the change gives local anglers and families another chance to enjoy Yellowstone's rivers while helping protect the park's fisheries.

For the latest fishing regulations, anglers should check Yellowstone National Park's 2026 Fishing Regulations HERE before heading out.