With the northeast in the midst of a heatwave, the New York state department of environmental conservation has issued some guidelines on warm weather trout fishing.
“Heat-stressed fish in streams often seek pockets of cold water created by upwelling groundwater, small feeder streams, or water released from deep reservoirs. These refuges allow trout to avoid or recover from potentially fatal levels of heat stress,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.
“To protect these fish, DEC encourages anglers to avoid catch and release for trout and not disturb trout during hot days.”
Anglers can help protect New York’s trout population by taking the following precautions:
- Avoid catch and release fishing for heat-stressed trout. Trout already weakened by heat stress are at risk of death no matter how carefully they are handled;
- Don’t disturb trout where they have gathered in unusually high numbers. It is likely these fish are recovering from heat stress in a pocket of cold water;
- Fish early. Stream temperatures are at their coolest in the early morning; and
- Be prepared with a backup plan. Have an alternate fishing plan ready in case water temperatures are too high at the intended destination. Consider fishing a water body that is less prone to heat stress or fishing for a more heat-tolerant species like smallmouth bass.
