How long before too hot for C&R on Housatonic?

Don J · 06-14-2007, 08:08 PM

Hi, new here and new to fly fishing.

The consensus seems to be that at H2O temp of 70F or greater catch and release fishing for trout is likely to kill the trout.

I've noticed that a couple shops on the Housy post water temps on their websites. One of them is reporting 66F most days lately for a morning temp, the other shop reports a few degrees warmer. I was in the Bulls Bridge TMA on Sunday and measured 66F at 5am. I should have measured it when I left at noon, but was in a hurry to get to a graduation party. I've had some great sessions on the water lately, however, I am thinking that it is about time to stop fishing the Housy.

I am guessing that the water temp later in the day may be getting over 70F. Do you guys follow the 70 degree guideline? Do you fish in the morning if the temp is upper 60s on days you know it will get up to 70 and then call it quits as the water warms up? I imagine that sooner or later the temp may be over 70F around the clock. If its deadly to trout to C&R why doesn't the DEC prohibit?

I'd hate to come to the Housy and see carcasses of fish I caught and released the day before. How much longer to fish?

**SlowNDeep** · 06-14-2007, 09:20 PM

The Hous has an open canopy and can get quite hot.

Some of the trout will continue to feed even as the water reaches 75. Many of the Housy holdovers APPEAR to be more heat tolerant and will fight pretty aggresively even when the water is above 70. I have always suggested that people focus on the Bass during the hotter periods and use heavier tippets than normal in case you (or if you intend to) hook trout. Land them quick, take a few moments to revive them, and you'll see that most of the trout that are actively feeding are quite hearty.

The Farmington, on the other hand, only cracks 65 in the hottest of weather and those fish get quite lethargic at those warm temps and will roll belly up if played too long at 65 degrees and released poorly. So the temp thing, as with most rules, is pretty general and should be adjusted for each river.

Catch one of those big bows in the hous when the water is 70 and I'll bet you kill it. (IMHO)

It should go without saying - but of course it won't - if you see fish podding up and gasping when the water is warm, don't try to catch them >

**Dave** · 06-14-2007, 11:14 PM

Slo, on a related note, could you give me an index of the Millers River? Because of the EXTREME low water levels after the spring runoff, the Millers can heat up incredibly fast. I've literally went there some years at the beginning of June to find out the temps are well above 75. By July, 80 is common, if not a low point. Somedays it feels like bath water. In any event, that has a good smallmouth population too, especially the Erving water ways. I guess this is why this is considered a fall-time fishery.

**AaronJasper** · 06-15-2007, 08:16 AM

yeah slo i agree. the brown trout in the housy tend to be a little more temperature tolerant than the average brown trout. i would guess its because they get used to the warmer water? i have caught browns there when the water is over 70 providing that the water temps drop below 70 at night. the interesting thing about it is that the fish were extrememly lively. i would have thought that the trout would have taken time to revive. i would stop fishing the housy... for trout that is when the am water temps are 70. that means that the trout arent getting a break from the high temps. also when it is too hot most of the trout migrate to areas where they cant be fished for anyway.

Don J · 06-16-2007, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the replies fellas. Thanks to your input we had a great morning. A buddy and I hit the Bulls Bridge TMA at 5am. Water temp was 64. We fished till 11am. When we left the water was 69. Trout were actively surface feeding. We caught and released many and none seemed the least bit stressed upon release. If we decide to try again before the fall and the water is 70+ in the morning, we'll move on to a tailwater.

After the water gets hot, do summer rains ever cool the Housy enough to make it fishable for a stretch?

**SlowNDeep** · 06-17-2007, 01:31 PM

Basically, if the water gets too warm the Trout will turn off and you'll have really good Smallie fishing. If we have a few cool nights in a row, the AM temps will drop to mid to upper 60's and the Trout will be active again (AM and PM)

If we have an extended heat wave and the water temps get above 75 and the evenings don't cool it too much for week(s), the Trout will hit the refuges, some will not leave til late August, others will migrate out when the water cools for a few days. Even then, at that point they tend to stay pretty close to the refuge areas.

What not to expect: River is up above 70 for weeks, you get some cooling rain on Wednesday and a stark change in weather, all the fish come out from the refuges to eat like pigs on Thursday. It takes them a while to return to normal feeding habits/areas after long spells of hot weather.