Why Trout Fishing in Summer Months is Challenging

A few days ago, I offered five trout fishing tips for summer months. Those tips will greatly improve your chances of catching trout in warm summer months.

Most trout fishers know that fishing in the summer is harder than in spring, but many don't know why. So today, I thought I'd explain a few of those challenges. The more you know about trout, and how they behave, the better you'll be at catching them.

The primary problem with trout fishing in the summer time is heat - which in turn affects water temperature. This is especially true for folks living in lower elevations. The hotter it is outside, the more water temperatures rise ... and the worse it is for trout.

Trout are cold blooded fish. They like cool, clean water. The temperature of the water affects how much oxygen is in it, which in turn affects the metabolism of trout. And like us, when trout are uncomfortable, they don't actively feed - which of course, makes it harder to catch them.

For more trout, water temperatures between 50-68 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. This is where they are most comfortable and are actively feeding. Other factors affect feeding beside water temperature (such as how secure the fish feels in the water at a given moment), but for now, let's stick to water temperature.

When water temperatures rise about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (as they often do in warm summer months), there's less oxygen in the water. This in turn results in a rise of metabolism for trout - which then makes them uncomfortable. And when they're uncomfortable, their first priority is to change that. So trout will look for cooler water (feeding becomes a lesser priority).

In lakes, cooler water is usually deeper water - which if often more towards the center of the lake.

In rivers and streams, cooler water may be found in deeper pockets or shaded areas of water. Running water is also more oxygenated than still water, so trout will often be found in riffles.

Knowing how summer months affect the water trout live in, will help you understand where to find trout throughout the day as outdoor temperatures rise. This in turn will help you catch trout during those difficult summer months!