As the summer of 2024 was one of the hottest on record, anglers across the country need to go fishing to cool off. But, with the hot temperatures causing warm water temperatures on many trout streams across the country and near you, finding cool water to fly fish for trout proved to be a little challenging as the heat of summer wore on. From smallmouth bass fishing to chasing carp, anglers are looking for ways to get out and fish near home that doesn't require cold, clear waters for trout.

From NPR comes a good article on alternatives to traditional fly fishing for trout when conditions favor the need to protect trout rather than pursue them.

From the article:

“People get concerned about what's causing [climate change] and all that. But that part to us doesn't matter,” says Mike Bias, executive director of the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana. “The reality is hatches are happening sooner. Flows are peaking earlier and tapering off. So what do we do? How do we adapt?”

Some guides in the Missoula area have moved their trips to colder rivers like the Missouri near Helena, where the water temperature is quasi-controlled by a series of dams. Others have shifted to targeting other fish like pike, which are invasive in some Montana watersheds. Almost all have shifted their fishing seasons, booking clients earlier in the spring and later in the fall.

Read the entire article here and then use onWater Fish to find plenty of species to chase near you!

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