NPS Photo by Todd Koel

A young angler holding a brook trout caught at Joffe Lake.

The fishing season begins the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (usually the last weekend in May) and extends through and includes the first Sunday in November. Exceptions are noted within the Exceptions to General Regulations table within the Fishing Regulations handbook [(2.8 MB pdf); Fishing Regulations (low-bandwidth version). Also note that there are areas within the park that are permanently closed to human entry and disturbance, have seasonal area and trail closures, off-trail travel and daylight hour limitations, and party size recommendations. See the Bear Management Area restrictions within the Yellowstone Backcountry Trip Planner for specific rules and information.

Photo courtesy of Ken Calkin.

Angler fly fishing the blue-ribbon waters of the Gibbon River.

Recent Regulation Changes and Barbless Hook Requirement

To reduce competition, predation, and hybridization stress on native fishes, Yellowstone has increased harvest limits of rainbow and brown trout in waters where they co-exist with cutthroat trout and fluvial arctic grayling. Two areas with differing regulations now exist: the Native Trout Conservation Area and the Wild Trout Enhancement Area. A map of these areas and list of the regulation changes are found within the handbook, which can be downloaded below. In addition, Yellowstone has adopted a barbless hook rule, to reduce handling time and injury, and improve the overall condition and appearance of fishes, especially in heavily fished waters. 

• Fishing Regulations handbook (1.7 MB pdf)
• Yellowstone Backcountry Trip Planner

Back to main fishing page