Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West | HITS 99.9FM

Record summer heat and drought across the US West have pushed river temperatures to levels lethal for trout, leading wildlife agencies to impose routine fishing closures. Officials are banning angling during specific hours on rivers and streams, including stretches of the Yellowstone, where restrictions expanded across the whole park on Wednesday and now limit fishing after 2 p.m. Montana also broadened afternoon closures to cover 1,200 miles. Colorado has restricted 19 rivers totaling 635.5 miles. Biologists say closures are increasingly common from late June to early September as droughts intensify, affecting both ecosystems and local fishing tourism.