Fish in Yellowstone's Southwest

Yellowstone map with southwest highlighted

Includes the Snake and Lewis rivers and tributaries; Heart Lake; Lewis and Shoshone lakes; Falls and Bechler rivers and tributaries.

Heart Lake opens July 1.

Possession Limits

Native Trout Conservation Area

  • Catch and release all native fish.
  • No possession limit on nonnative fish.

Nonnative Trout Tolerance Area

  • Waters above Lewis Falls, including Lewis and Shoshone lakes and the Lewis Channel—possession limit of five nonnative fish in combination, only one of which can be a brown trout.
  • Do not discard lake trout carcasses along the lake shore as they will likely attract bears.
 
 
Map of fishing locations in Yellowstone's Southwest
 
Angler fishing in Yellowstone during a golden morning.

Catch a Fish

Be a responsible angler and understand the regulations before you come.

An angler standing in a winding stream and fly-fishing.

Fishing Regulations (PDF)

Download the Yellowstone Fishing Regulations booklet.

An underwater view of a spotted fish with a red slash on its neck and side swims above pebbles

Native Fish Species

Native fish underpin natural food webs and have great local economic significance.

Young cutthroat trout in a shallow creek

Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences Program

Explore the National Park Service science program for fish and aquatic species.

Zebra mussel infestation

Clean, Drain & Dry

Prevent damaging aquatic invasive species from reaching Yellowstone.

Last updated: April 14, 2022

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park , WY 82190-0168

Phone:

307-344-7381

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected