Having Trouble Catching Rainbow Trout This Summer?

As I have said before, other than the dead of winter, there is no more difficult time of the year to rainbow trout that the hot summer months.  There are many reasons why this is true, but the most important in my experience is the fact that water temperatures often rise above the high end of the rainbow trouts ideal temperature range (61 degrees).  Once water temperatures start to climb above the 60 degree mark rainbows will become less and less active, thus making them much more difficult to catch.

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Here is Northwest Montana where I live we have gotten lucky this year, as the run off lasted quite a while and the water temperatures are still well below the 60 degree mark.  This sucked for the spring trout season, but should bode well for the fall season.  In any case, trout can still be caught during the summer, especially if a few simple tips are adhered to. 

First, you always want to make sure that you are on the water at the most opportune times, meaning when the rainbows are the most likely to be actively feeding.  I accomplish this by doing two things.  The first thing I do is check the moon rise and set for the particular day that I am going to be fishing.  Here's a website that makes finding this information simple and easy.   Over the years I have found that rainbows are almost always more active during the times when the moon is either rising or setting.

And the next thing that I check is what phase the moon is in at the time when I am going to be fishing for rainbow trout.  If at all possible I try to plan my trip around the New Moon phase, especially during the warm summer months when rainbows tend to be less active anyway.  In my experience the fishing is almost always more productive when the moon is new, as opposed to many other times of the month. 

Finally, because water temperatures are the major enemy of summer trout fishing, do your best to be on the water fishing when the water temperatures are their coolest.  This means fishing right after rainstorms, early in the mornings, or after cold fronts pass through your fishing area.  All of these things cause slightly cooler water temperatures, which oftentimes "turn" the rainbows on so to speak, if only for a short period of time. 

If you are having trouble catching rainbow trout this summer, implement one (or all) of these simple tips.   If you do you should definitely experience more summer trout fishing success.