Warm Water Fishing

We usually wait until later in the summer to remind anglers about late summer heat and how it can affect trout species, but dry and hot weather has been with us for months, and so the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to help protect fisheries by adjusting their fishing practices.  Stream temperatures in many parts of the state have regularly been exceeding 70 degrees for some time, especially as in the afternoon and evening.       

Warm water contains less dissolved oxygen, making it more difficult for fish to recover after being caught. As water temperatures approach 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the likelihood of released fish surviving declines significantly. Prolonged exposure to water temperatures above 75 degrees can be lethal for trout, while brief exposure to temperatures above 80 degrees is often fatal.     Anglers should get out earlier and fish during the morning, when water temperatures are lowest, where trout have the greatest chance of surviving after release.   

Regardless of where they fish, anglers can help improve the survival of released trout by adjusting their fishing practices as water temperatures continue to stay warm and will likely increase.  Carrying a pocket thermometer and periodically checking water temperatures is one of the simplest ways to determine when conditions become stressful for fish.     

When water temperatures reach 65 degrees, the Department encourages anglers to harvest fish in accordance with established regulations rather than practice catch-and-release. Once water temperatures reach 70 degrees, anglers should discontinue catch-and-release fishing altogether.  Land fish as quickly as possible to minimize exhaustion. And keep that fish in the water while removing the hook whenever possible.  Avoid squeezing fish or placing fingers in their gills.  If a fish is deeply hooked, cut the line rather than attempting to remove the hook.  Use artificial flies or lures and consider using barbless hooks to reduce handling time.      

If a fish is too exhausted to hold itself upright after release and regulations allow, consider having that fish for dinner instead of releasing it.  These recommendations are voluntary, but by doing all of this can have a significant impact on fish survival during the hottest part of the summer.