Yellowstone National Park Fishing

Yellowstone Fishing

Yellowstone National Park regulates and manages fishing access within the park in order to protect natural resources, native species and outstanding scenery, preserving it so that visitors can continue to enjoy the area for many years to come.

Season and Hours

The fishing season within Yellowstone National Park is typically open from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the first Sunday of November. Anglers are welcome to fish the waters of Yellowstone during this time from sunrise to sunset. Please note that different rules and regulations may apply to certain rivers and waterways within the park.

Permits and Fees

All anglers, 16 years of age and older, are required to be in possession of a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit at all times. Children, age 15 and younger, can either obtain a free permit or fish without a permit as long as under direct supervision of an adult with a permit.

All vessels, including float tubes, must have a permit within Yellowstone National Park.

Fishing and boat permits are available at ranger stations and visitor centers throughout the park.

Guides

There are a number of permitted fishing guides that offer day trips throughout many of Yellowstone's waterways. If you are new to the area or to the sport of fishing, hiring a guide for the day is a great way to make the most out of your Yellowstone fishing experience.

Fish Species and Regulations

It is the responsibility of the angler to be able to identify the different fish species and to have an effective way of measuring caught fish. Different limits on size and possession apply to each fish species. In general:

• Native fish species (including Cutthroat Trout, Grayling, and Montana Whitefish) are Catch and Release Only!
• Non-native fish species (including Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Lake Trout) are limited to 5 per day.
• Lake Trout caught from Yellowstone Lake must be killed.

Fish Management Areas

Yellowstone National Park is broken up into different fish management areas in order to regulate fishing.

The Native Trout Conservation Area encompasses a majority of the park, where native fish species are regulated. The Wild Trout Enhancement Area encompasses Madison River (but not Hebgen Lake) and the Lewis River above Lewis River Falls, where native species as well as Rainbow and Brown Trout species are regulated.  

The following areas are permanently closed to fishing:

• Fishing Bridge and an area one mile downstream (toward Canyon) and one-quarter mile upstream (toward Yellowstone Lake) from the bridge.
• The Yellowstone River for 100 yards up and downstream of LeHardys Rapids.
• The entire west channel of the Yellowstone River near the road at Nez Perce Ford.
• The Yellowstone River and its tributaries through Hayden Valley from the confluence of Alum Creek upstream (toward Yellowstone Lake) to Sulphur Caldron.
• Pelican Creek and its tributaries. 
• The shoreline of Yellowstone Lake from West Thumb Geyser basin to Little Thumb Creek (to protect fragile thermal resources).
• Bridge Bay Marina/Harbor & Grant Village Marina/Harbor and their channels to the lake.

Content Error? let us know OR write for us!