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 Yellowstone National Park is managed as a natural
area to protect plants, wildlife, geology, and scenery. Angling has been a major visitor
activity for over a century. Present regulations reflect the park's primary purposes of
resource protection and visitor use. The objectives of the fishing program are to:
- Manage aquatic resources as an important part of the ecosystem.
- Preserve and restore native fishes and their habitats.
- Provide recreational fishing opportunities for the enjoyment of park
visitors, consistent with the first two objectives.
In Yellowstone, bald eagles, ospreys, pelicans, otters, grizzly
bears, and other wildlife take precedence over humans in utilizing fish as food. None of
the fish in Yellowstone are stocked, and populations depend on sufficient number of
spawning adults to maintain natural reproduction and genetic diversity. In Yellowstone
National Park, we place less emphasis upon providing fishing for human consumption and put
more emphasis upon the quality for recreational fishing. Anglers, in return, have the
opportunity to fish for wild trout in a natural setting.
Because of the increasing number of anglers in the park, more
restrictive regulations have been adopted in Yellowstone. These restrictions include:
season opening/closing dates, restrictive use of bait, catch-and-release only areas, and
number/size limits according to species. A few places are closed to the public to protect
threatened and endangered species, sensitive nesting birds, and to provide scenic viewing
areas for visitors seeking undisturbed wildlife.
A permit is required to fish in Yellowstone. Anglers 16 years of age
and older are required to purchase either a license. The fee structure
was revised in March 2004, and is as follows:
3 Day Permit -- $15
7 Day Permite -- $20
Season Permit -- $35
Anglers 12
to 15 years of age are required to obtain a non-fee permit. Children 11 years of age or
younger may fish without a permit when supervised by an adult. The adult is responsible
for the child's actions. Fishing permits are available at all ranger stations, visitor
centers, and General Stores. No state fishing license is required in Yellowstone
National Park.
HELPFUL WEB LINKS
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Flyfishing.com
Flyfishing Club
Soda Butte Creek near
Lamar Ranger Station (Stream Flow)
Wyoming Basin Outlook
Reports (Stream Flow)
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