If you have read our most recent reports, you’ve probably heard us talking about water temperatures. While a warm day on the river might feel great to us, it can be a different story for trout. Why is that?
Trout are cold water fish. They depend on cool, oxygen rich water. A uptick in water temperature stresses them out. To keep it simple: warmer water = less oxygen. This stress also speeds up a trout’s metabolism. Less oxygen + increased metabolism that requires more oxygen to maintain = exhausted trout.
This is also why trout can get less active during the hottest parts of the day. They are looking to conserve their energy. They do this by moving to deeper runs or faster, more oxygenated currents. Once temperatures hit that 70 range, the stress multiplies significantly. Trout have to work exceptionally hard just to meet their basic needs. This is why even fighting a fish for too long can be a trout’s demise- they are simply already too stressed. Keeping fish in the water, fishing barbless, using heavier tippet and releasing them quickly can make a big difference.
The good news is that not every river responds to hot weather the same way. Tailwaters like the Grey Reef often benefit from cold water releases from the reservoir, helping maintain cooler temperatures even during long stretches of summer heat. That said, we are still incredibly diligent when it comes to checking temps. In short, warm water is not the best for cold water trout. Happy learning!
