Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bighorn sheep
FISH AND FISHING
Fishing the Madison River
You may wonder, why is it okay to catch and eat fish in Yellowstone Park when we are for-
bidden to kill or capture all other animals, pick wildflowers, or even take away rocks? People
began to question park policy toward fishing a few decades ago, and fishing practices began
to change. The park now charges a fee for fishing licenses, which had always been free. As of
the 2001 fishing season, all native sport fishing is catch and release only. See “Fishing” in the
Travel Tips for current permit fees.
The number of anglers has dropped, but these anglers probably land more fish. Non-fish-
ermen enjoy watching the fish feed, fight, and spawn at Fishing Bridge or leap up LeHardy's
Rapids after spawning in the river. More important to the ecosystem, the bears and fish-eating
