Trout

[DiPaoro]

So I am new to Trout fishing....but is the season over now?

I am still fishing the Black River @ Hacklebarney.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by DiPaoro

So I am new to Trout fishing....but is the season over now?

I am still fishing the Black River @ Hacklebarney.

Yes, especially with this heat wave and low water. Good time to start smallmouth bass fishing.

[Dave B.]

Yup, what 'thmyorke1' said. Wait till after this heat wave is over and we get some rain to put a bit of water back in the creeks. After the heat passes and we get some precip you can still hit up many of the WTS's, particularly in the early AM while they're still cool from the overnights. The same applies to a few of the larger waters that tend to run cooler. The middle to lower Musky has a good deal of limestone influence which usually keeps it running cooler than most of the other large streams. Likewise the upper to middle Flatbrook through the C&R section will hold fish and run fairly cool unless we get into a pretty drastic drought situation as happened a few years back. Otherwise it's a great time to chase smallies and they are one hard fighting fish in the streams and rivers! Good luck! An afterthought, it pays to carry a stream thermometer if you do intend to chase trout. Water temps of 70 and above are generally a 'no-go' unless you intend to keep all you catch.

[bigfishy]

Bottom lin? buy a ten dollar stream thermonmeter, and actually use it

[briansnat]

You can still catch plenty of trout under these conditions. What I think the other posters are trying to point out is that the warm streams are already hard on the trout and they are in survival mode and just hanging on.

Properly handled, trout easily survive a catch and release back in April, May and early June, but catching and releasing that same trout in warm waters is often enough to do them in. Though they are in season and definitely catchable, many anglers choose to lay of them in warm and/or low water conditions for that reason.

That is for streams. Deeper, cold water lakes such as Merrill Creek and Round Valley, fish away. Those trout find optimum temps and dissolved oxygen levels to hang out in and aren't as vulnerable to hot weather as stream fish.

[DiPaoro]

I spent $13 for the read the water temp.

With all the rain, I am thinking Sunday will be a good day to fish.

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by DiPaoro

I spent $13 for the read the water temp.

With all the rain, I am thinking Sunday will be a good day to fish.

Ambient temps will be in the low 80's plenty high enough to drive water temps up into the low 70 range. And plenty high enough to kill trout already stressed from the last 2 weeks. Go fish a tail water like the Delaware or hit the smallies. Give the trout a break until the fall unless your going to keep them. Then have at it.

[DiPaoro]

So I went to Black River my usual spot. The river was way down and the temp with my new tool read 70F. Packed my stuff and went home.

Will be taking out my bass equipment now.

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by DiPaoro

So I went to Black River my usual spot. The river was way down and the temp with my new tool read 70F. Packed my stuff and went home.

Will be taking out my bass equipment now.

Kudos to ya for giving the trout a break when they needed it! They'll be there ready and willing when the conditions improve, and hopefully the 'trout gods' will smile upon you when that time comes!

[Chrisper4694]

there are def spots that get fed by cold mountain streams and such where the water temps are totally safe to trout fish.