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.

Credits and Sources:

"Explore the Fishing Bridge, Lake Village, and Bridge Bay Area," National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/explorefishingbridgelake.htm (accessed October 4, 2015).