Species Regulations
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ANGLER TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH ONE FISH SPECIES FROM ANOTHER.
All native sport fish species in Yellowstone have been placed under catch-and-release-only fishing regulations. Native species include the cutthroat trout and its several subspecies, Montana grayling, and mountain whitefish.
NATIVE FISH SPECIES:
| Cutthroat Trout Locations: Widely distributed throughout park. Characteristics: All fish with a red slash are considered cutthroat. Regulations: Catch and Release ONLY! |
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| Arctic Grayling Locations: Gibbon, Firehole, Madison Rivers. Characteristics: Large sail-like dorsal fin. Regulations: Catch and Release ONLY! |
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| Montana Whitefish Locations: Snake and Lewis Rivers. Characteristics: Round body at mid-section, no teeth. Regulations: Catch and Release ONLY! |
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NON-NATIVE FISH SPECIES:
| Rainbow Trout Locations: Widely distributed throughout park but do not exist in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River above the Upper Falls, or the Snake River. Characteristics: Many spots on head, white color on edge of fin. Regulations: Within Native Trout Conservation Area - 5 fish; Within Wild Trout Enhancement Area - Catch and Release ONLY! |
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| Brown Trout Locations: Gallatin, Gibbon, Firehole, Madison, Lewis, Snake, and Gardner rivers, and the Yellowstone River. Do not exist in Yellowstone Lake, Bechler or Falls rivers. Characteristics: Tan belly and black spots. Regulations: Within Native Trout Conservation Area - 5 fish; Within Wild Trout Enhancement Area - Catch and Release ONLY except Lewis River System (Lewis Lake, Lewis Channel, and Shoshone Lake and tributaries) where 2 fish are permitted (only one fish of any species over 20"; all fish in possession must remain whole) |
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| Brook Trout Locations: Widely distributed throughout park but do not exist in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River above the Upper Falls, or the Gallatin River Characteristics: Worm like markings. Regulations: Within Native Trout Conservation Area - 5 fish; Within Wild Trout Enhancement Area - 5 fish |
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| Lake Trout Locations: Distributed in Heart, Lewis, Shoshone, and Yellowstone Lakes. Characteristics: White spots on dark background and deeply forked tail. Regulations: Yellowstone Lake, its tributaries, and the Yellowstone River - All lake trout caught must be killed. If you do not want to keep the fish, puncture the air bladder and drop it into water as deep as possible. Heart Lake - No size or possession limit. Do not discard lake trout carcasses along lake shore as they will attract bears. Lewis Lake, Lewis Channel, and Shoshone Lake and their tributaries - 5 fish in combination (only one fish of any species over 20"; all fish in possession must remain whole). |
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Fishing Areas
Native Trout Conservation Area:
- Gallatin, Yellowstone, Shoshone, Snake, and Falls rivers, tributaries, and associated lakes.
- Hebgen Lake tributaries and associated lakes, including Cougar Creek, Duck Creek, and Grayling Creek systems.
- This area does not include the Lewis River system above Lewis River Falls (Lewis and Shoshone lakes and tributaries).
Wild Trout Enhancement Area:
- Madison River, its tributaries and associated lakes (but not including streams and associated lakes tributary to Hebgen Lake)
- Lewis River system above the Lewis River Falls, including Lewis and Shoshone Lakes and their tributaries.
Disclaimer: We do our best to provide the most up to date information gathered from the National Park Service. Regulations and closures can change without notice. Make sure to contact a ranger or stop by a visitor center if you plan on fishing in Yellowstone National Park.
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