Due to unseasonably warm temperatures causing water temperatures to regularly exceed 70°F, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is requesting that anglers avoid fishing in some areas and shift their fishing in other areas to protect trout populations.
Cody Region Waters Under Voluntary Closures:
Bighorn River (Hot Springs State Park downstream to Skelton Boat Ramp): Full Voluntary Closure. Water temperatures are failing to drop below 70°F overnight, leaving no safe window for catch-and-release fishing. Please avoid fishing this section entirely.
Bighorn River (Wedding of the Waters downstream to Hot Springs State Park Boat Ramp): Afternoon/Night Voluntary Closure (12:00 PM to Sunrise). Please pause all catch-and-release fishing after 12:00 PM.
Extended hot air temperatures and low water flows in the Bighorn River below Boysen Dam have caused river temperatures to regularly exceed 70 degrees in the afternoon and evening, posing a serious threat to caught-and-released trout. Sam Hochhalter, Cody Regional Fisheries Supervisor, said “Summer temperatures in the Bighorn River through Thermopolis often exceed 70 degrees in July and August. What makes this summer particularly concerning is that anglers are continuing to fish the Bighorn River during periods of elevated water temperatures. This wasn’t the case in years past.”
Hochhalter continued, “Thermopolis continues to grow as a destination for quality trout fishing. Over the last handful of years there has been a substantial increase in the number of flyshops, fishing guides, and public anglers in town. This increase has led to concerns over crowding and now, concerns over angling during periods of elevated water temperatures.”
Why Timing Matters
Warm water carries significantly less dissolved oxygen, making it difficult for trout to recover after a fight. Advised for any waters:
- At 65°F: Anglers are encouraged to harvest legal limits rather than practice catch-and-release.
- At 70°F+: Catch-and-release fishing should be stopped entirely for the day.
- Above 75°F: Water temperatures become hazardous, and brief exposure above 80°F is often fatal to trout.
Other Cody Region Advisories
East Newton Lake and Luce Reservoir: These and other regional stillwaters are highly susceptible to elevated temperatures even in the early morning. Check water temperatures before casting, as overnight recovery may be minimal.
For the most up-to-date list of impacted waters across the state, please visit: wgfd.wyo.gov/fishing-boating/fishing-heat.
Check the temp, Land ‘em fast, Keep ‘em wet. Thank you for your cooperation in protecting Wyoming's fisheries.
