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Where Do Summer Trout Go

any anglers have no idea what happens to the
trout once summer arrives. Many anglers think
that most of their streams that warm up that the
trout just disappear. This isn't the case.
Water temperature is the most important limiting
factor for trout. In trout streams that are
marginal which usually means summer temperatures
approaching the high 70's to 80 degrees a number
of different things occur in these streams.

In some waters that have a lot of tributaries or
feeder streams the trout will migrate to the
mouth of these streams or even further upstream
to escape the nearly lethal temperatures of the
main stream or river. Many of these feeder
streams are heavily canopied and very hard to
fish affording the trout added protection. Two
things usually happen in these streams. Either
the trout stay in these streams during the hot
weather for the duration or in some waters the
fish will move back to the main river towards
evening as the main stream cools.

In some waters where the main river stays in the
mid to high 70's the trout will just find a cool
spot under a bank or in some shade. The fish do
not feed and basically are there just to survive.
As the evening approaches the temperature in the
stream will drop by 4 to 6 degrees which will put
the stream around 67 to 69. This is when most of
the feeding occurs and this is when any major
insect activity will happen also.

It's good practice to carry a stream thermometer
and to monitor your waters. Many streams hold
large fish that have escaped the hordes of spring
anglers. Remember it may not be the actual
temperature of the stream but the rising or
falling of that temperature to the proper feeding
range of the fish in that stream. The easiest
way to do this is to monitor what night time
temperatures will be. When you see a couple of
days in a row where the temperature is dropping
greatly in the evening this is the time to be on
the stream.

Know the area before you fish it in the evening
and prepare for it with heavier leaders and
perhaps even a streamer or large Wooly Bugger
because when most anglers are sitting this one
out you could get quite a trophy especially if
there are brown trout in the stream which are
notorious for night feeding once they get past
around twelve inches. Whether yor are fly fishing
or spin fishing this is the way to get them.

About the Author
Gene Macri is nationally known fly fisherman and
aquatic and environmental scientist. His
websites include
www.flyfisher.com; www.flyfishingforbrooktrout.
com; www.limestoner.com and www.
riverandgamekeeper.org.
He has researched streams and rivers throughout
the US and is a frequent speaker for fishing,
nature,
and environmental groups. He is also a noted
write, photographer and graphic artist.