Yellowstone Fishing: Angler Advice

Fishing in Yellowstone National Park is a chance of a lifetime for many anglers. Its pristine waterways, abundant wildlife, and spectacular surroundings make it one of the most enjoyable places to cast a line. Yellowstone's waters and fishery are sensitive, and it is up to the angler to be up to date on fishing regulations, to know the proper handling a caught fish, and to be aware of the spread of invasive species. Here are some tips for anglers on ways to help maintain the magnificent ecosystem that Yellowstone provides.

Unhooking a Fish

This may seem like such a simple task to experienced anglers out there. But take a moment to read through these recommended steps provided by the National Park Service on the best method for unhooking a fish and giving released fish the highest chance of survival.

 

• Use only barbless hooks and lures.
• If you plan on releasing a fish, reel it in before it reaches exhaustion.
• Keep the fish in quiet water while unhooking it.
• Use forceps or small pliers to gently remove the hook.
• Only handle the fish if needed and with wet hands.
• The preferred method for holding a fish is with one hand around the tail section and the other hand cradling the belly. Do not touch or hold on to the fish's gills.
• When taking a photo, make it quick.
• If a fish becomes passive or unresponsive, hold the fish under water and towards the current. You can also move the fish back and forth, toward and away from the current, which will open and close its gills with the force of the water. Think of it like fish CPR. They will swim away once recovered.
• If a hook is deeply embedded, cut the line. Many fish will survive with hooks left in them.
• For an easy measurement tool, mark your rod or pole with tape or nail polish at various intervals. You can quickly measure the fish on your rod and reduce the fishes amount of time out of water.

Cleaning your Gear

There are a number of invasive species that are easily transferred from waterway to waterway. These species can affect native fish populations and the natural ecosystem. Help stop the spread of these threats and make sure to thoroughly clean your gear, boots, tackle and boat before leaving your fishing site.

Recognizing the Cutthroat Trout

Yellowstone National Park encourages all anglers to abide by an easy to remember rule of thumb:

If it has a Slash, Put it Back!

It is the angler's responsibility to be able to identify the various fish species in Yellowstone's waterways. An easy to remember tip for recognizing Cutthroat Trout is that they always have a reddish-orange streak, or what looks like a slash, on the underside of their jaw.  Hence the term 'cut throat'. If you see the red slash, make sure to release the fish back into the waterway from which it was caught.