“Once water warms too much (78 to 86 degrees, depending upon species) trout can perish from the hostile environment.”

Trout anglers looking to beat the heat may want to add a little more precaution than usual to their catch-and-release regimen during summer, particularly on The Little Red River, which has seen temperatures exceeding the comfort level for rainbow and brown trout.

Christy Graham, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Program supervisor based in Mountain Home, has worked with the state’s trophy-class trout fisheries for nearly 15 years. During that time, temperature monitoring throughout Arkansas’s famous tailwater fisheries always takes top priority in summer.

“We conduct daily checks of water quality conditions and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Southwestern Power Administration to address any concerns we have about the amount of water being released,” Graham said.

According to the American Fisheries Society’s “Trout and Char of the World,” most trout species grow best at temperatures between about 53 and 66 degrees. Once water warms too much (78 to 86 degrees, depending upon species) trout can perish from the hostile environment. But it’s not a hard-and-fast rule, as many variables come into play that can drop that critical temperature a bit lower.

Graham says it’s not just the heat but, more importantly, the amount of oxygen in the water that plays a critical role in fish health during summer. Read more