Fishing on select Yellowstone waterbodies is now completely prohibited due to warm water and low flows. The new closures are an expansion on the partial closures the park began enforcing in response to water temperatures rising to critical levels earlier this month.

Reason for Closures

Warm water and low flows prompted the park to limit fishing hours from sunrise to 2 p.m. since July 9 on the following rivers. Now, fishing these rivers is temporarily prohibited outright. Peak water temperatures have ranged from 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, which are lethal to trout, and there have been reports of dead fish in the Firehole River.

The closures will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and will remain in effect until conditions improve. Staff will continue to monitor the water temperatures, and the closures may be lifted, or additional restrictions and closures may be put in place, depending on condition assessments.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.