Fishing Bridge

You can't actually fish from Fishing Bridge, but the name remains since it was so popular for so many years.  After stopping by the museum we parked near the bridge and actually walked over it.  A sign at the nearby general store explains more about the bridge:

Fishing from the nearby bridge was banned in 1973 when the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population declined due to over fishing and the bridge's proximity to sensitive spawning grounds.

I'll admit I'm young enough that fishing has been banned longer than I've been alive, so I have no memories of people fishing from the bridge.  But I can imagine how older people might remember a row of people lined up on the bridge to fish.

The original bridge was built in 1902. It was a rough-hewn corduroy log bridge with a slightly different alignment than the current bridge. The existing bridge was built in 1937. The Fishing Bridge was historically a tremendously popular place to fish. Angling from the bridge was quite good, due to the fact that it was a major spawning area for cutthroat trout. However, because of the decline of the cutthroat population (in part, a result of this practice), the bridge was closed to fishing in 1973. Since that time, it has become a popular place to observe fish.
--from NPS Yellowstone website, Lake Area section

The bridge doesn't look too much different today, except for the lack of fishing poles.  We parked nearby and walked the length of the bridge.

I like this "park style" of sign.  I think that it looks good and weathers well.

I had to zoom in quite a bit to see this message.

The view was beautiful from the bridge.

We also stopped to see the nearby general store.

Built in 1931, this store is located near the Yellowstone River and the historic Fishing Bridge.  Built in the rustic log and stone style so popular in Yellowstone, this store is a busy hub on the Lake side of the Park; nearly all visitors stop here on their way to or from the Park's popular East Entrance.
--from store signage

Once again I was thrilled to see a fireplace inside the building, even if there wasn't a fire burning at the time.

I thought this was appropriately funny and an excellent way to have fun with a necessary sign.

~Matt