Tuff Times

The heat is on. One afternoon this week a favorite fly fishing stream produced just one landed trout. The number of refusals were in the 30s. I tried many flies, but nothing worked. In my desperation, I tried my river thermometer; 71 degrees Fahrenheit...too hot. I was surprised. Generally water temperatures don't get this high until the end of July. That creates the move to faster flowing, cooler, deeper parts of the rivers for fly fishing success. 
This last thunderstorm brought a deluge of rain that has silted up some of the rivers; Black, Sturgeon and Pigeon. The rivers will take a few days to clear up and drop in depth over the weekend, just in time for the hot spell forecast for next week.
Although lower Michigan has been hit with very hot weather in the low 90s F and little precipitation, northern Michigan is about to get it's first dose of 90sF with lows around 70F. This will create tough fishing conditions until next weekend.  Late evening fly fishing, about 9:30 pm, or early morning, 6:30 am, might produce more active trout and some strikes. Trout are not active in water at or over 70F.
Sound confusing ? It is for me. Hot weather and lot's of rain is a double whammy...you will have to be that is why they call it fishing!

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