Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the U.S. West

Record heat across the U.S. West is pushing river temperatures to levels that can be lethal for trout, prompting wildlife officials to impose fishing closures during certain hours. The bans are tied to an exceptionally dry winter and widespread drought, which have lowered water levels and allowed rivers to warm faster. Restrictions are intended to reduce stress on fish populations, including prized trout. Anglers often travel from around the world to fish in places such as Yellowstone National Park and Montana’s Blackfoot River, made famous in “A River Runs Through It.” More extreme temperatures are forecast this weekend as the Southwest heat wave expands northward and eastward.