Hoot Owl Restrictions and Fishing Closures in Montana’s Yellowstone Country
Photo by Pat Clayton
Warm water temperatures and low river flows have prompted Hoot Owl Restrictions and fishing closures on some of Montana’s Yellowstone Country waters. Warm, low-flowing water is highly stressful and can be fatal to fish. As such, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, along with Yellowstone National Park, have implemented restrictions to protect the health of our native and wild trout fish populations.
Anglers should plan to fish during the coolest times of day and land their fish quickly without playing them to exhaustion. Gently handle the fish, release them quickly, and let them recover a moment in the water before release.
Current Hoot Owl Closures
Hoot Owl Closures allow for fishing in the early morning, with closures in place from 2:00 p.m. to midnight on the following rivers:
- East Gallatin River
- Gallatin River
- Jefferson River
- Some sections of the Madison River
Officials will monitor the rivers closely and reassess when temperatures cool and return to typical summer conditions. For up-to-date information on current closures, go to fwp.mt.gov.
Yellowstone National Park Fishing Closures
Yellowstone National Park has also announced closures, including:
- Madison River and all associated tributaries
- Firehole River and all associated tributaries
- Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground
Yellowstone Lake and other lakes remain open from sunrise to sunset, along with all other rivers not listed above. Be sure to check the fishing regulations, and to purchase your Yellowstone National Park Fishing License, which is required to fish in the Park.
Montana Fishing Regulations and licenses can be found at fwp.mt.gov.