The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to voluntarily avoid fishing portions of the Bighorn River near Thermopolis as unseasonably warm temperatures continue to stress trout populations.
According to the department, water temperatures in some sections of the river are regularly exceeding 70 degrees, creating conditions that can be fatal for trout caught and released.
Game and Fish is requesting a full voluntary fishing closure on the Bighorn River from Hot Springs State Park downstream to the Skelton Boat Ramp. Officials say water temperatures in that stretch are not dropping below 70 degrees overnight, leaving no safe period for catch-and-release fishing.
An afternoon and nighttime voluntary closure is also being requested on the Bighorn River from the Wedding of the Waters downstream to the Hot Springs State Park Boat Ramp. Anglers are asked to stop catch-and-release fishing in that section after 12 p.m. each day until sunrise.
The department said extended hot weather and low flows below Boysen Dam have caused river temperatures to remain dangerously high during the afternoon and evening. As Thermopolis has grown into a popular trout fishing destination, officials have also seen increased fishing pressure during periods of elevated water temperatures.
Game and Fish recommends anglers pay close attention to water temperatures throughout the state. At 65 degrees, anglers are encouraged to harvest legal limits rather than practice catch and release. At 70 degrees or higher, catch-and-release fishing should stop for the day. Water temperatures above 75 degrees are considered hazardous to trout, with brief exposure above 80 degrees often proving fatal.
The department also advises anglers to use caution at East Newton Lake, Luce Reservoir and other regional stillwaters, where water temperatures can remain elevated even during the early morning hours.
The latest information on voluntary fishing restrictions across Wyoming is available on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s fishing heat advisory webpage.