Trying to trout fish the streams in warm weather...

Macchina · Jul 15, 2012

It's been in the high 80's and 90's with little rain in Michigan for a few weeks now and it seems the trout have grown legs and left the streams. I fish the Pere Marquette River (Main River and Middle Branch) and the water temperature must be getting into the high 60's. Nibbles are few and far between and I only get a couple strikes each time I go out. I know trout don't like the high temps, but do they just stop eating when the temps go up? I finally spotted a 14 incher (big for such a small stream) in the middle branch yesterday night and fished him for about 15 minutes. Not only was he not interested in any of the usual flys or spinners, he wouldn't even swim away when I bumped him with a Mepps. I've saw this response in larger trout last summer too and can't figure out what to try. I checked out the deepest hole in my section of the stream (the stream is usually about 3-4' deep but goes down to about 10' in this one hole) and it was crystal clear. I saw one keeper in there...

I tried the large river (Pere Marquette) that my stream deposits into and they weren't there either. Maybe they all went all the way to Lake Michigan to become Steelhead...

When the temps go up, do you just stop stream fishing for trout? What are your secrets? I can using my spinning setups to fish any type of fly/lure in this stream because it is narrow and dense.

mewolf1 · Jul 15, 2012

Night fishing, no joke. There seems to be a lull for a bit, but then bout 11-11:30 WHAM! I like to use big Streamers at night. 2's and 4's black colored. Nymphing is also productive. Lots of the bigger nymphs have hatched out so I tend to fish with smaller stuff in the 12 and under sizes. Black bead-heads. Try "swinging" them too. Poo-poo you say?, not. My son consistantly out fishes me useing this method.
Best part is too, everybody else went home and the river is all yours:thumbup:

Joe Calton · Jul 24, 2012

I dont know about the temp affecting trout, but I do know that as the water gets clearer, they can see you easier. about 2 weeks ago I was fishing a very small creek for brookies, the stream is actually dry on the surface in several spots, so hitting the smallish beaver dams. was working with small panther martins from upstream, and a buddy was working from downstream. we had cought a couple, and they were biting hard, until my lure got hung up, and I had to go clear it. as soon as the fish saw me it was game over, not one more bite from that hole, even though we could still see them.

I have a book where they have a picture on how fish see out of the water, and the water actually bends their line of sight. so they can see farther up on the bank than you think. If you can see them, they just might be able to see you.

Try stalking them, and keeping a very low profile. It seems silly, to be stalking a fish like a deer, but it works. That and fishing undercuts in the banks and any shady spot.

ericvar101 · Jul 24, 2012

get there early in the morning and fish before the day gets to warm, usually between 6:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

I would also recomend finding smaller tributary streams that come from the mountain and are shaded by trees, you will have better luck mid day in the smaller streams that do not get sun, the water stays colder.

Nickelsig229 · Jul 24, 2012

I thought it was common knowledge that trout are a cold water fish. I only fish them in april/may and then again in the later fall.

I would look towards some other species for summer fun, like bass or walleye.

Macchina · Jul 24, 2012

It is common knowledge that trout like cooler weather, but they still have to eat during the summer!
I tried some night fishing last weekend (11pm-2am). I didn't catch anything but had a great time. I fished some big Wooly Bugger streamers for a while but kept snagging due to not being able to see. I then moused for a while and my brother had a big trout thrash his "mouse" (it was actually a really big rattling hopper Rapala) 4 times. I think if would have stopped reeling the trout would have thought he stunned the mouse and taken it, unfortunately he didn't know what to do.

I'll try getting out early next weekend. I was out early this weekend and went to hole where I have seen monsters before. I was able to sneak up on the hole because the water is down and I can walk gently on the wooded bank. I was fishing a small Mepps when a giant brown swam gently to the surface and gulped some bug. It was awesome to see and even though I tried every dry fly in my box I couldn't get him back out.

Larry from Bend · Jul 24, 2012

I caught several Cutthroat and a few Brookies last week in a small river on the Rocky Mtn Front. River was quite low but still many small pools and undercuts. I surely enjoy being able to wade these places this time of year. We were using gaudy, white/beige #10 dry flies. Fishing in a high-walled canyon helps keep the sun off of the water.

barrabas74 · Jul 28, 2012

I just cought a 20 inch brown and a 19 rainbow up in the pocono's on a local stream. Early morning using spinners in 3-4 foot holes and quick to moderate moving water. I tend to trout fish really early in the morning during the summer due to that "lull" you speak of when water temps rise. Most streams around here in MD have opening/closing times and you cannot fish at night or before sunrise so night fishing is out for me most of the time. I have had more luck with different spinners as of late then flies or worms etc, maybe making them make quick decisions vs floating bait by when there more laxidasical is what does it.