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Visitors hoping to go fishing in Yellowstone to close out the last few days of July are in for some bad news. Starting July 29th, all streams and rivers in the national park will be closed to fishing from 2 p.m. through sunrise the following morning.

This news comes after several other major fishing holes have been closed due to unseasonably low water levels, which are now posing a risk to the park’s fish populations.

Yellowstone Fishing Restrictions Began During Peak Summer Season

By July 15th, water temperatures in Yellowstone had reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Average temperatures in mid-July typically range from 70 to 80 degrees; however, some lower-valley regions may occasionally see hotter afternoons. And while these temperature spikes were not record-breaking, they were enough to shut down several major fishing locations.

The Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison rivers and their tributaries were all closed due to low water levels. As water temperatures neared 90 degrees, high-altitude temperatures also presented challenges for the marine life in the water below. When reports came in of dead trout in the Firehole River, Yellowstone placed an immediate restriction on fishing during peak hours.

The immediate closures allowed the park’s fish to recover without additional stress from anglers. However, as of July 29th, Yellowstone has made a decision affecting all of its fishing holes—and it may impact visitors hoping to score a big catch.

Temperatures Force Temporary Closure Of Remaining Fishing Holes

Now, all of Yellowstone’s fishing holes are closed from 2 p.m. until sunrise the following day. This ban stands in addition to the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison rivers also remaining closed. As of now, there’s no definitive timeline for when fishing holes will reopen.

“Water temperatures have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in recent days, and flows on many rivers are below long-term averages. These conditions are extremely stressful and can be fatal to fish. The extended forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions with a slight chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorms, which contribute to continued low stream flows and high-water temperatures. Staff will continue to monitor the water temperatures. The closure may be lifted, or additional restrictions and closures may be put in place depending on condition assessments,” Yellowstone National Park said in a statement.

Yellowstone is also requesting that anglers opt for quick catches rather than sport fishing. “Anglers: Please fish during the coolest times of day and land fish quickly. Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion,” they issued in a warning to visiting fishermen. Any fish caught should be handled gently before being released back just as gently. This reduces stress on a species that’s already dealing with excessive heat.

The park also made it clear that any anglers who do not follow these guidelines may contribute to further restrictions in the future. If conditions persist and fish are stressed not only by the heat but also by anglers, more closures may follow. For visiting anglers, this will delay trips or even end the summer fishing season early.

Following Yellowstone’s river closures, the new rules are as follows:

According to many Yellowstone visitors, the park is making the right call. Many, including anglers, care about the longevity of the park’s fish species and are more than willing to respect the rules as long as it protects marine life.

“Good to hear. I was fishing with my two sons at Firehole, Gibbon, Trout Lake, and Madison the second week in June. Such a pleasure it was. Glad the fish will be protected!” One user says on Facebook about the recent closings.

“In my opinion, the state of Wyoming should do this with all rivers,” another replied.

At the time of writing, restrictions still have not been lifted. However, the forecast heading into August shows consistently high temperatures, with some days potentially reaching almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AccuWeather. This, combined with little to no forecasted rain, may mean that closures will persist through early August.