In Southwest Montana summer has arrived in full force! Now that we are sweating through our shirts it has become a popular topic in the shop. So let’s shed some light on this subject! It’s been up in the 90’s for a couple days here and there, the average temp for July is 85 degrees, coincidentally the river’s temperature has risen with the air temp. The river has been getting up to 71 degrees during some days and as low as 60 degrees at night. This raises some issues with the fishing and how to do it well in these trying heat waves.
Once the temperature of the water gets as high as it is, the fish begin to eat less and less. Trout do best in cold cold water, so to live in the water now is a bit stressful for them, this stress causes them to stop eating and go into survival mode. We find that the best times to fish are between sunrise-11 am & 6pm-sunset. This is the best time to catch hungry and eager trout. If you find yourself on the river during the heat of the day do not fear, there are still plenty of opportunities to fish! During the heat of the day the fish move to the deepest stretches of river. They do this because the water stays slightly cooler at the bottom of the river. This means we are fishing long leaders with plenty of weight so that our flies stay in the bottom of the water column.
There are a number of useful accessories that can help a fellow beat the heat! Costa Sunglasses and ballcaps are an easy way to get the sun off your face and out of your eyes. We have a variety of different Buff’s available at the shop! A Buff can help keep fisherman cool during the day as well as prevent a nasty sunburn on the back of your neck. Sunscreen is an obvious essential for any day spent out in the sun. Another great option for staying cool and keeping the sun off you are the Simms Solarflex long sleeve hoody. This shirt offers 50 upf protection and is extremely lightweight!
Come stop in the shop and gear up for a hot day on the water, we have everything the angler could possibly need to have a successful day! Sunscreen, shades, hats, buffs, and shirts! Keep cool and happy fishing!
