After a dry but fairly mild late spring/early summer season, daytime temperatures are finally climbing into the high-80s with regularity. That means many of our local rivers, already low from a lack of snowpack and lighter-than-average spring rains, have started to get warmer. While Hoot Owl regulations haven’t been imposed in Oregon, they may be coming. Either way, summer has officially arrived, and it’s time to talk about how we can ethically target trout in hot weather.
There are several general precautions we can take to protect our resident trout populations while still enjoying productive time on the water. Have a water temperature thermometer on hand, and always be sure to check if the water you’re fishing in is below safe temperatures for trout. Scientifically speaking, that’s anything under 68 degrees. But when water temps get into that 62-65 range, it’s time to start handling trout with more caution. Play them quickly, and get them into the safety of a rubber net to unhook them without putting undue stress on their jaw. Handle them as little as possible and with very wet hands. Always use barbless hooks if you plan to release the fish. Keep your fish in the water for pictures, or better yet, just snap a mental image and let them be on their way. Release trout into water with enough current to be well-oxygenated, but try not to release them into currents that are too heavy for a fish to reasonably hold.
In lake environments, these best practices become exponentially more critical. The fish might be living and feeding in cold, oxygen-rich water several feet below the surface. But you’re going to drag them up into warmer water for the majority of the fight, not to mention the process of netting and releasing. Stillwater fish often go into mild shock as a result and need to be gently revived before they are returned to the water. If you hold them out of the water for a picture and they slip out of your hand, they’ll usually hit the water and immediately go belly up. The fish isn’t dead; it’s just exhausted and unsure of what to do next. If it stays prone, it will suffocate or, more likely, find itself scooped up by an eager eagle. We can avoid that outcome by holding the fish gently but firmly beneath the surface. When it starts to struggle against the grip of your hand, you know it’s ready to return home safely. If a fish goes belly up in the water, try giving it a little nudge with your net. A tail kick that splashes water into your face is a good sign!
Basic precautions, however, have their limits. When these foundational rules become harder to follow on your favorite lake or stream, it’s time to get creative – and we’re here to help. Here’s how our shop pros combat hot weather when clients still want to target fly fishing’s most sought-after species.
Target Tailwater Systems
Tailwaters almost always provide the most consistently cool water temperatures throughout the summer’s warmest months. Where a deep, cool lake spits water out of a dam, trout can typically thrive downstream — often, for many miles. The Lower North Santiam below Detroit Reservoir is an excellent option, flowing high and cold year-round. The Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River below Lake Timothy or below Lake Harriet also provides cool, fast-moving water that is so chilly you’ll want waders on even the hottest days. Clear Creek below Clear Lake up on Mount Hood is another good bet. On the world-famous Lower Deschutes, you’ll find colder water the closer you are to Lake Billy Chinook. Focus on sections upstream of Maupin.
Fish at Higher Altitudes
There might not be much snow left in the Cascades at this point in the summer, but the higher you are, the closer you’ll be to what little melt is still happening. Many of our local rivers and streams are also fed, in part, by dwindling glaciers high up on Mount Hood. Overnight temperatures plummet at altitude, and the headwaters of many alpine creeks and streams are protected by thick canopies of shade-giving conifers. Together, these factors conspire to keep water temperatures reasonable throughout the summer months. You may need to put in some miles on foot, but the upper reaches of streams like the Salmon River and its tributaries can offer excellent fishing when the lower, more easily accessible sections warm up.
Focus on Mornings and Evenings
If you have your heart set on a particular destination — say, a group trip out to the Middle Deschutes canyon — just be sure to avoid the hottest portions of the day when the sun is at its zenith. Sun on the water puts trout down anyway, so you won’t be missing out on the day’s best angling opportunities. Fish will be at their most active when the light is low, whether that’s the early morning or evening hours just before dusk. On the hottest days, water temperatures may still be too warm to fish ethically, even in the evening. Be sure you have your thermometer handy.
Explore Deeper Lakes
I’ve seen a lot of dead fish floating around lakes like Frog and Trillium as they encounter exuberant anglers on hot, sunny days. These shallower lakes warm up quickly when daytime temperatures are consistently high, but others provide cold water all summer long thanks to chilly inflows and impressive depths. Lake Harriet, while not particularly deep for much of its small acreage, gets ice-cold water year round from Lake Timothy dam upstream. Lake Timothy is deep throughout, save for its North Arm — which is fed by a 42-degree underground spring beneath Little Crater Lake. Laurance Lake and Lost Lake are both incredibly deep and hold big trout around the drop-offs, where the water stays chilly and livable all year long.
Head for the Estuaries
Sea-run cutthroat populate our estuary environments all summer and are treated to fresh inflows of cold, oxygenated water twice a day thanks to the ocean’s tides. Food follows that tidal schedule, too, which provides the foundation for one of our most unique guided trout programs. The Oregon coast also tends to be much cooler in summer than the Willamette Valley or Central Oregon, with frequent overcast days and even the odd rainstorm. You’ll want to avoid fishing our coastal streams too far up from the tidally influenced reaches, as they’ll be low and warm at this point. But for those who love catching trout with a light sea breeze tickling their nostrils, it doesn’t get better than the estuary.
Pursue a New Species
I know, I know, this blog promises to help you fish for trout. But sometimes you want to wet a line even when the conditions just aren’t safe for salmonids. The good news? Bad weather for trout is ideal weather for our two favorite summertime species: bass and carp. If you haven’t fished for smallmouth on the Willamette or Columbia with one of our guides, consider this your warning – it’s not just the fish that get hooked. These chunky creatures put up a better fight, pound for pound, than any resident trout. Plus, getting out on the Willamette or Columbia, two rivers that play such central roles in the lives of all Portlanders, is just a special experience.
And carp, well, that might be my favorite fish to pursue anywhere, at any time. Hot, sunny summer days provide the best opportunity to sight fish for these massive beasts, which occupy the Lower Columbia River by the tens of thousands. If you’ve ever watched videos of people sight fishing for tailing redfish and longed for the Louisiana flats, great news — you only have to go about 20 minutes down I-84 for the same experience with Eric. Or, you can get creative (and muddy) and pursue these fish on foot in places like Suavie Island or the Sandy River Delta. You won’t have to bother with waders, but be sure to wash your boots afterward! We have plenty of carp flies and gear on hand in the shop (and bass, too), so come on by and get some tips.
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