Does Water Temperature Really Matter?

I stood there knee deep in the stream. I could feel the cool water racing around my legs as I plunged my thermometer deep into the cool clear water. The air temperature was already reading 82 degrees and the sun was pounding down on the water's surface. It was one of those days where you don't even bother to roll up your sleeves since they will dry fast. After submerging the thermometer for three minutes I slid on my cheaters and gave it a look. 68 degrees it read. "Hmm" I thought to myself as I started to wrestle with my conscience. According to everything I ever read this was exactly the magic number. The temperature where trout become extremely stressed while fighting them on your line. I had traveled about an hour to get to this spot and I was really looking forward to a day of chasing trout up and down the stream. I looked up to the sky and noticed there wasn't a cloud to be found. I knew there was a good chance the water temperature was only going to go up. There hadn't been any rain for several days so I knew there was going to be little to no mountain run off. I grappled to find any logical reason why the temperature could possibly drop. I finally had to admit to myself that it wasn't. I stood there looking over the beautiful small mountain stream. I watched several small brook trout rise to the surface just taunting me. I knew I would never see anyone out here to judge me but I had to make the ethical decion. I walked away. You know, the whole "making the right decision even though no one is watching" thing. Back at the truck I stripped off my waders, broke down my rod, and decided to come up with a new game plan. Luckly I knew a spot aboout 35 minutes away that always changed from a trout location to a small mouth bass location when the dog days of summer where upon us. So I pointed the truck north and headed out.

I looked over the bridge and took a look around. It was just as I had remembered it from a few years back. I hopped over the guard rail and carefully navigated the rocks down to the river. I knew water temperature wouldn't be an issue so I didn't even bother to check it. Cautiously I waded out into the water and started to cast.

Right away I was hooked up on a small fallfish. Cast after cast I was landing a variety of bass and fallfish in all sizes. I took a moment to grab a drink of water and ran the last few hours of my day through my mind. I smiled knowing I had made the right decision.

Fly fishing during the summer months can be a lot of fun. But you need to be willing to change your plans based on water temperatures. Trout are a cold water species and can be stressed very easily. Here are a few things to consider while fishing durning the hottest days of the year.

1. Bring a thermometer with you so you can make an educated decision on whether you should fish or not.

2. If the water is close to that 68 degree temperature put on a heavier leader so you can land fish quicker. A shorter fight means less stress on the fish.

3. If you are planning on keeping your fish go ahead and fish at any temperature.

4. Decrease your handling of the fish. If possible, don't even take them out of the water to remove the hook.

5. Make sure the fish has recovered fully and swims off on its own.

6. Watch the weather forecast. If you know the water temperature is right on the bubble and the day is going to be warm, find another spot to fish.

7. Consider fishing for another species or just take the day off.

8. Remember that our summers are short so it will cool off soon enough and you will get another chance to fish that water again.

Warm water temperatures don't mean you have to stop fishing. Heck, I fish from snow fall to 90 degree days. You just need to think outside the box and consider fishing for other species. Fly fishing isn't just for trout. Now is the perfect time to hop on that kayak or float tube and expand your fishing experiences. Bass, carp, blue gills, and all sorts of pan fish are an absolute blast on a fly rod. Fishing for these warm water species will not only hone your fishing skills, it will create a whole new experience you just might look forward to next year when your favorite trout stream becomes too warm.