Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that the Firehole River will reopen to fishing on Thursday, September 11, 2003. The Firehole River, along with the Madison and Gibbon Rivers, had closed to fishing on July 21, 2003; the Madison and Gibbon Rivers reopened to fishing on Wednesday, August 27, 2003.

The three rivers had closed to fishing due to unusually high water temperatures from thermal run-off and unprecedented warm temperatures in the region. Water temperatures of 77° F and above can be lethal to trout. At the time of the closure, water temperatures were measuring in the mid to upper 70s.

Reopening criteria requires that streams remain below 73 ° F / 22.7 ° C for a period of three consecutive days. With recent cooling temperatures and moisture, the Firehole River has met this criterion.

Superintendent Lewis reminds anglers that fishing season continues through the first Sunday of November.