Record heat forces widespread fishing bans on Western U.S. rivers

Record summer heat is driving water temperatures in western rivers to levels that can kill cold-water fish, leading wildlife managers to enforce time-of-day fishing bans. Colorado has limited fishing on 19 rivers, and Montana expanded afternoon closures to cover roughly 1,200 miles, including the Yellowstone River throughout Yellowstone National Park. Anglers like Mike Wever are adapting to the new rules, acknowledging the need to protect the resource.

Biologist Adam Strainer notes that such restrictions have become routine from late June through early September as climate change fuels more frequent droughts. The economic impact is evident in towns that rely on trout tourism, with outfitters reporting that visitors are shifting trips to later in the season. Conservation groups warn that dwindling reservoir levels and warming waters further endanger trout populations across the Rockies.