Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West
Summary
Record heat and drought in the U.S. West have raised river water temperatures to dangerous levels for trout. To protect the fish, wildlife officials are limiting fishing during certain hours on many rivers and streams, including popular spots like Yellowstone National Park and rivers in Montana.Key Facts
- Trout need cool water to survive, but this summer’s heat has made rivers too warm for them.
- Fishing is banned during some afternoon hours on many rivers to reduce stress on fish.
- Rivers in Colorado and Montana have widespread fishing restrictions covering over 1,800 miles combined.
- The Yellowstone River now has fishing limits after 2 p.m. daily, extended to the entire park.
- Lower river levels caused by drought make water heat up faster.
- These fishing closures have become more common over the past decade due to rising temperatures.
- Anglers often release caught trout quickly since handling warm-stressed fish outside water can be harmful.
- A heat wave is expected to continue, bringing more high temperatures to the region.
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