Yellowstone Fishing Report – (8.30.26)
Update: Yellowstone lifts full closures for Firehole, Madison and Gibbon rivers
Partial restrictions remain in effect from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. – Effective Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, anglers will be able to fish the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) rivers and all associated tributaries from sunrise until 2 p.m. each day. Cooling weather and water temperatures, as well as precipitation in the current weather forecast, allow for the full closures to be lifted.
The full closures were implemented on July 15 because low water flows and high water temperatures exceeding 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) can be lethal to fish. Water temperatures have cooled at night, allowing for fishing for part of the day. Anglers can fish on most other park rivers, streams and lakes daily from sunrise to sunset as specified in the 2026 Fishing Regulations booklet.
Staff will continue to monitor the water temperatures. Temporary restrictions may be lifted, or additional closures may be put in place, depending on condition assessments.
Anglers: Please fish during the coolest times of day and land fish quickly. Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion. Gently handle fish in the water as much as possible and let them recover before release. Your cooperation will protect the park’s fisheries and may prevent the need to prohibit fishing at all times of the day on some rivers and streams if conditions worsen.
The general Yellowstone National Park Fishing Season is now Open! The Yellowstone River below Yellowstone Lake opened on July 1st. Anglers heading that way should be ready with some Terrestrials, PMDs and Caddis.
There is a multitude of different options for anglers in Yellowstone National Park during the summer season.
The northeast side of the Park – Lamar, Soda Butte and Slough Creek are in good fishing shape. Dry dropper set ups will be effective in covering water. Standard foam attractors paired with pheasant tail, hare’s ears and other patterns like Duracells and perdigons will be effective.
Yellowstone Fishing Resources:
– Yellowstone Fishing Regulations
– Yellowstone Backcountry Trip Planner
