Fishing in Yellowstone National Park has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the park’s establishment in 1872.
The park’s abundant waterways and diverse fish populations quickly drew the attention of anglers from across the country, who flocked to the park in search of the perfect catch.
The first recorded fishing expedition in Yellowstone took place in 1871, when members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition fished in the Yellowstone River and caught several trout.
In the early days, fishing was largely unregulated, and anglers were free to fish wherever and whenever they pleased. However, as the number of visitors to the park grew, concerns began to arise about overfishing and the impact it was having on the park’s delicate ecosystem.
In response, the park began to regulate fishing in the early 1900s, limiting the number of fish that could be caught and establishing a fishing season.
Today, fishing in Yellowstone National Park is a highly regulated activity, designed to protect the park’s fish populations while still allowing visitors to enjoy this beloved pastime.
Anglers must obtain a fishing permit and adhere to strict rules and regulations, including catch-and-release policies and restrictions on the use of certain types of bait and equipment.
Recently The National Parks Service announced that Yellowstone National Park is set to expand fishing access in two areas within the park, allowing for year-round fishing opportunities starting November 1, 2024.
The two locations that will be open for year-round fishing are the Madison River and the Gardner River.
The Madison River, which runs from the Wyoming/Montana state line downstream to the park boundary near the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana, and the Gardner River, which runs from Osprey Falls downstream to the confluence with the Yellowstone River near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, will now be open for fishing throughout the year.
However, other fishing areas within the park will continue to be available only during the standard fishing season, which runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through October 31 each year.
The annual fishing permit for 2024 will be valid from May 25 through December 31, 2024. Beginning in 2025, the annual fishing permit will be valid for the calendar year, January through December.
Yellowstone National Park is also inviting the public to learn more about its Native Fish Conservation Program through a virtual presentation on April 30, 2025. The presentation will be led by Todd Koel, the leader of the program, who will discuss topics such as lake trout control, cutthroat trout recovery in Yellowstone Lake, native fish restoration in streams, angling regulations and catch trends, as well as aquatic invasive species prevention.
The virtual presentation will be open to the public, and a live Q&A with Koel will follow the presentation. The public can join the virtual presentation by clicking on the link provided on the Yellowstone National Park website.
The expansion of year-round fishing access in Yellowstone National Park is a great opportunity for fishing enthusiasts to explore the park’s natural beauty throughout the year while also protecting the park’s ecosystem.