Where Do Trout Go When Water Temperatures Rise

Trout are a species of fish that are commonly associated with cold water. They don’t like it when water temperatures rise too high, and will always look to be in cold water instead. So what do they do when the warmer months roll in, and water temperatures as a whole are on the rise? Here’s how you can find them and catch them during these warmer months.

Trout are a kind of fish that thrive in cold water, and absolutely hate being in hot water. Brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout all do best in the 50 to 60 degree Fahrenheit range. Anything above that, and they start to shut down. If the water is too hot, they stop feeding entirely, and they actually are at a higher risk of mortality. While some species just slow down a bit when temperatures rise, trout shut down entirely, or they relocate if possible to colder water.

One of the main reasons for this is the fact that warmer water holds less oxygen. While the shallower water may be a normal feeding zone for trout, they will absolutely abandon these areas if the water gets too hot and oxygen levels decrease too drastically. Instead, they’re going to move to survival zones, which have colder water and more oxygen for them. They also become far less aggressive and tend to stick to one small area. If they do decide to feed, it’s going to be in shorter windows, typically early in the morning or late in the evening.

Let’s start with one of the main trout fisheries out there: lakes. Where do these fish go when the weather gets too hot for them in lakes?

The first place to look for trout in the lakes during the warmer months is deeper water, specifically near the thermocline. This will usually be found in 15 to 40 feet of water, depending on both the size of the lake and the clarity of the water. These fish love sticking close to the thermocline, as it provides colder water temperatures as well as plenty of oxygen for them. It’s common to find trout suspended just above or within this thermocline area.

Another feature to look for in a lake is any natural spring or cold water inflow into the lake. These areas can bring in water that is much colder than the main body of water, helping to reduce the temperature and provide oxygen in a small, concentrated area.

Natural springs, creeks, rivers, or subsurface seeps along shorelines are all main features to look out for. When you find an area like this, it’s common to find a ton of trout stacked up in them all day long (even if the water is actually pretty shallow).

You’ll also want to stay on the lookout for areas with shade and structure, especially if you can find them near deeper water. Trout use areas like steep drop-offs, overhanging trees, and deep weed edges near transition zones as a place to escape the heat. These areas are great at reducing light penetration from the sun, helping to reduce overall temperatures in the water.

It’s important to find these areas close to deeper water, as trout will slip up into the shade and cover when they’re feeding, then look for a quick escape back down to the depths where the water is cooler. This is even more important if you’re fishing a smaller lake that doesn’t have a strong thermocline established in the main body of water.

For many anglers out there, rivers and streams are the go-to place when looking to catch a bunch of trout. But where do they go to escape the heat in these bodies of water?

The first place to look for is any place with a deep pool or a slower run. These areas have deeper water, which is going to provide the coldest water in the entire system for trout to escape to. Look for pools in the 4 to 8 foot range, or any outside bend where the water is at its deepest. You’ll commonly find trout in these areas, especially near bottom structure or undercut banks.

Another place to look is an area with faster-moving water. When the water is moving quickly through an area, it will actually provide more oxygen than some of the slower-moving areas in the water you’re fishing. You’ll want to look for features like riffles feeding into pools, pockets of water behind big rocks, and current seams.

In these areas, the trout will sit in water that’s moving fast enough to provide oxygen (but not so fast that they have to expend a ton of energy to stay there).

Similar to lakes, another great place to look is anywhere with a cold water inflow into the larger system that you’re fishing. If you can find some tributaries running into the larger river, chances are you’ll find trout stacked up in the mouth of the tributary. These areas provide an inflow of colder, oxygen-rich water that the trout want to be in. You can commonly find fish here all day long, not just during the mornings and evenings.

So we know where the trout are going to be when temperatures are rising, but what should you tie on when chasing after them?

One of the best methods to try this time of year is going to be a vertical jigging presentation. You’ll want to use a small jighead paired with an artificial bait like a paddletail, fluke, or tube jig. These are great to try when fishing the thermocline.

You’ll want to either drop your jig straight down to these fish or cast out to an area of deeper water and let the rig sink to the bottom. Mix in subtle lifts off the bottom or above where you think fish are suspending, while mixing in plenty of pauses before letting it sink back down. Oftentimes, you’ll get a bite from a trout on the fall in this method.

If you’re planning on fishing rivers, streams, or shallow water near drop-offs, it might be a better idea to try casting light lures. These can include inline spinners, spoons, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. You’ll want to fish them around creek mouths, inflows, or shaded cover where trout are hanging out.

Cast these lures across the area you think fish are hiding in, and do a slow and steady retrieve back to you. Adding in the occasional pause to your retrieve can help trigger strikes from interested fish in the area.