- Hot, dry conditions have forced emergency fishing closures in Yellowstone National Park.
- The full closures apply to the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers and their tributaries.
- Officials cite dangerously warm water and low flows that are stressful for native trout.
- Park lakes and all other rivers and streams currently remain open for angling.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 – Citing concerns for the health of native and wild trout, Yellowstone National Park officials announced on July 11 that several key rivers would close to all fishing. The closures, which took effect the following day, are a direct response to sustained high water temperatures and diminished river flows.
In a statement, the National Park Service
confirmed that the full length of the Madison and Firehole rivers, along with their tributaries, are closed until further notice. The Gibbon River is also closed downstream of Norris Campground. Park staff will continue to monitor conditions and will only reopen the rivers once temperatures cool and flows increase to more sustainable levels. The forecast calls for continued hot and dry weather, suggesting the closures may persist.
Stressful Conditions for Trout.
The Park Service implemented the closures after water temperatures in the affected rivers surpassed 68 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days. Combined with low water volume, these conditions create an environment that is highly stressful and potentially lethal for trout. Fish in warm, low-oxygen water can struggle to recover after being caught and released, leading to higher mortality rates.
While the popular rivers are closed, Yellowstone Lake and the park’s other lakes remain open to fishing during their normal hours. All other rivers and streams not explicitly named in the closure notice are also still open. Park officials are urging anglers who visit these open waters to fish only during the coolest parts of the day, to land fish as quickly as possible, and to handle them gently in the water before release to minimize stress on the fishery.
A Pattern of Summer Restrictions.
Fishing closures due to warm water are not a new phenomenon in Yellowstone, though they have become a more frequent management tool in recent years. The park often implements partial-day closures, known as “hoot owl” restrictions, before moving to full-day closures if conditions worsen. Earlier this season, on June 19, the park instituted 2 p.m. daily closures on these same rivers (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/25008.htm). A similar pattern occurred in 2024, when the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers were closed in mid-July and remained so for several weeks until cooler weather prevailed in late August and September (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/24030.htm). These recurring restrictions highlight the increasing pressure that warmer and drier summers are placing on the region’s celebrated cold-water fisheries.
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