|
|
Trout Water and Habitat
|
Trout and insects are more active in low
light, and cloudy conditions.
On warm,
bright days, hatch activity usually starts
earlier in the day but will be shorter in
duration, producing intense activity. On
cloudy days, hatches start later and produce
for a longer period of time.
Rain
Rain can have a positive effect both on
fish's willingness to feed.
Rain
comes on days with overcast skies. The
mixing action of rain hitting the water's
surface also oxygenates the water, which can
raise the activity level of the fish. Rain
also can quickly cool the surface of water
and with aerators present can provide a
wider spread cooling effect around the
aerators. The best hatch activity is
typically right after the rainfall which
brings high increases hatch activity.
Oxygenated Water
There are 2 main environmental keys to
finding trout: temperature and oxygen.
Cooler water retains more oxygen and oxygen
helps create cooler water. Lack of oxygen
and higher temperatures create many issues
for fishing. It can destroy the eco system
of a lake causing algae run away and blooms,
sluggish fish starving for air, warmer water
temperatures, etc. It is so important that
the lake management understand these issues
to provide a stable environment not only for
the the fisherman who pays to fish a stocked
lake but also for the humanity of the fish
they stock. Its one thing to feel too much
warmth but to also be starved of oxygen
would make any creature just sit still until
conditions change.
Sunshine & Temperature:Understanding thermal climate is super
important.
If the water is warm,
activity is slow. Trout tend to like a nice
cool 50-64 degree ranch. When the water gets
warm they dosile (sluggish, slow down). The
sun intensity thru water on a thermometer,
on a 75 degree day with clear water can
reach over 100 degrees in 6 ft of water as
reflective heat. Try it - plan to burst your
thermometer though.
This is why we can stock trout all summer
long, from April to October as the water
temp typically never reaches over 75 degrees
as most Southern California Lakes don't even
stock trout until October because their
waters are just to warm for them to move.
Thermocline Layer: |
|
|
|