Due to unseasonably warm conditions, water temperatures are regularly climbing above 70°F and, in some areas, not dropping enough overnight to give trout a chance to recover. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to adjust accordingly on portions of the Bighorn River in the Cody Region.
As a result, Game and Fish has issued a full voluntary closure on the Bighorn River from Hot Springs State Park downstream to Skelton Boat Ramp. Water temperatures in this stretch are failing to fall below 70°F overnight, meaning there is currently no safe window for fishing. The section of the Bighorn River from the Wedding of the Waters downstream to the Hot Springs State Park Boat Ramp is under a voluntary afternoon and night closure from noon until sunrise. Anglers are encouraged to wrap it up by midday and give fish a break during the warmest part of the day.
It’s not the update anyone wants to hear, but these are the times when good stewardship matters most. If you’re heading out, carry a thermometer, keep an eye on water temperatures, and be willing to adjust your plans. The fish will thank you for it.
