US Edition
Yellowstone closes 3 rivers to fishing as water temps climb
MONTANA, JUL 14 – Yellowstone closed key rivers to protect trout as water temperatures surpassed 68°F, with nearly a dozen Montana rivers under similar restrictions, officials said.
- Starting July 11, Yellowstone National Park prohibited fishing in the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon waterways, along with all connected streams, to safeguard the aquatic life.
- The closures followed rising water temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit and near-record low streamflows linked to drought and loss of winter snowpack.
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks also issued hoot owl restrictions on several rivers, including the Sun River and Madison River, limiting fishing after 2 p.m. to reduce fish stress during the hottest hours.
- Mike Duncan, who manages fisheries in Region 3, highlighted that inadequate water flow significantly limits trout numbers and cautioned that as river levels drop and temperatures rise, further restrictions might be implemented.
- These measures aim to protect cold-water trout from mortality risks due to heat and low oxygen, but ongoing drought and warming suggest continuing challenges for Montana's fisheries statewide.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Associated Press News
Warming rivers prompt fishing restrictions in western Montana
Nearly a dozen rivers in western Montana and a handful of rivers inside the borders of Yellowstone National Park are under restrictions or closures as biologists seek to reduce angling-related sources of fish mortality.
Additional 'hoot owl' restrictions announced for Bitterroot River
Anglers take note additional "hoot owl" restrictions for the Bitterroot River.Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has announced that the river between Veterans Bridge in Hamilton to the confluence with the Clark Fork River at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16.The restrictions which prohibit fishing between 2 p.m. to midnight will stay in effect until conditions improve.Additional information on FWP waterbody restrictions can be found here.FWP anno…
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Montana State ExponentList of western Montana rivers with hoot-owl restrictions continues to grow
A dozen rivers — including the Madison, Gibbon and Firehole in Yellowstone National Park — are subject to the restrictions on afternoon fishing or all-out closures as biologists grapple with warming rivers and meager streamflows.
The Billings Gazette
Yellowstone closes 3 rivers to fishing as water temps climb
The closure took effect on Saturday, July 12, and will remain in effect until the water temps cool as a way to protect the park's native and wild trout fisheries.
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