Summer Fly Fishing: Tips to Beat the Heat
Mid-summer is upon us and some days and weeks are flat-out hot. When temperatures push into the 90's, it's time to rethink your fly-fishing game plan.
The Case for Going Early
Instead of sleeping in on your day off from work, get up early and go fishing. Then, come home mid-day and take a nap if you need it. That way, you'll still get your extra sleep and you will also feed your soul with the goodness of a morning in the great outdoors. By the afternoon, it will be too hot for prime fishing anyway, and not very comfortable for angling, so you can sleep soundly knowing you’re not missing a thing.
By the way, early mornings are awesome. The hour or so before sunrise is my favorite time to be outside. The air is cool, the birds are calling, wildlife sightings abound, the fish are active, and it just feels like a great time to be alive and on the water.
Trout like to rise before the sun gets up and beats on the water. Spent caddis and PMD/PED (pale evening dun) spinners are typically drifting on the surface early in the morning, leftovers from the previous day. Female Tricos hatch at first light and the daily spinnerfall usually gets fish actively feeding until about 10 a.m. When you go early, you won't miss anything. When you show up at 11, you can be pretty sure the best part of the day has passed.
Need some dry fly patterns for the morning hours?
Stay Hydrated
If you end up fishing through the middle of the day, you will need to stay hydrated. In our dry Montana heat, water gets sucked from our skin at a high rate. Even if you don't feel sweaty, be assured that you are perspiring and the air is sucking it away. If you are rowing a boat or hiking to fish, your rate of perspiration and water loss is even higher. Plan on carrying 8-12 oz. of water for each hour you are on the water or hiking along a trail.
Cover Up
While nobody likes to think about it, UV damages skin cells. I'd rather stay halibut white under long sleeves, than burn my skin to the shade of a lobster. Sunscreen certainly helps to keep the UV rays at bay, but the best way to keep from burning up your skin is to cover it with UPF 30 or greater fabrics. These days, we have lots of great high-performance, lightweight and even cooling fabrics to cover up with. Long sleeves, long pants, sun gloves and a sun gaiter or wide-brim hat for the neck and head are standard attire.
My standard uniform for summer fishing: Simms Stone Cold Shirt (I own five); Kuhl Renegade Pants; North 40 fly shop hat; Simms Sungaitor and Sun Gloves.
Increase Your Elevation
When the temps soar in the valleys, it’s a great time to head for the headwaters. The higher you get on ariver system, the cooler the water is likely to be. Trout like cool water. Trout at higher elevations are typically happy and healthy in the middle of the summer. You will be more comfortable there, too, and you’ll likely find that the fish are willing players on dry flies, all day long.
Don't Give Up
Just because it's hot, don’t give up on fishing. If you like fishing the lower valley waters, you'll simply need to go early. If you like to hike, get up into the backcountry and explore the headwaters. If your home water is too warm for trout, consider other species. Bass, pike and carp are all fun to catch on fly rods, and mid-to late summer is a great time to try for them. If you’re after bass, try the big pond at Pelican Point. Looking for pike? Hit Pishkin Reservoir outside Choteau or the Missouri River from Morony Dam to Loma.
Alternate Activities
Remember fly tying? When it's 100 degrees, fly tying near the air conditioner is as valid as tying near the heater when it's the middle of January and minus-10. Fall will be just around the corner. Fill up that streamer box.
Need materials to fill out your tying station?
Visit A North 40 Fly Shop
We speak fly fishing. When we are not on the water, we are here to help you plan and outfit for your days on the water. We are also happy to simply tell tales and share information. It may not be as fun as being on the water, but at least you can fill in some time in a fish-related way, at least until the air cools down.