Anglers, dust off the waders a little earlier this year.
Yellowstone National Park has officially expanded its spring fishing season, opening portions of three iconic rivers on May 1 instead of waiting until Memorial Day weekend.
Yes, that’s nearly a full month of bonus casting. You’re welcome.
What’s Opening Early?
Beginning May 1, fishing will be permitted on:
- Firehole River — downstream to its confluence with the Gibbon at Madison Junction
- Gibbon River — from the Grand Loop Road bridge near Norris Campground downstream to Madison Junction
- Madison River — from the Montana-Wyoming state line downstream to Madison Junction
The season on these rivers will still close October 31, so fall diehards can rest easy.
The Madison below the state line in Montana remains open year-round, because apparently fish respect jurisdictional boundaries.
Why the Change?
According to park officials, the updated timeline better aligns with favorable spring conditions, such as higher flows and cooler water temperatures, while still protecting native fish populations.
Overall, we get more good fishing days without compromising conservation goals. A rare win-win in the wild.
What This Means for Jackson Hole
For local anglers and guides, this is meaningful. Early May often delivers strong hatches and fewer crowds before the summer surge begins. It also spreads out visitation pressure, something Yellowstone (and, let’s be honest, the entire region) can use.
If you’ve been following our ongoing Yellowstone coverage, you know the park is constantly balancing recreation with preservation. We’ve covered everything from wildlife management updates to infrastructure debates and visitation trends, because in this valley, Yellowstone news is local news.
A Gentle Reminder
As always, anglers must follow all park fishing regulations, including permits, gear restrictions, and native species protections. The trout were here first.
So yes, spring just got a little better. Now the only remaining question: are you actually going to fish more, or just use this as justification to buy another fly rod?
We won’t judge.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
- Jason Ziernicki
