Getting in hot water

[Muskiefool]

seems temps are going up pretty fast so keep the handling to a minimum and try to keep them in the water at all times if possible; enjoy some time chasing Bass or Top-water Dog fish if your me .

[cbrooks]

I've heard from other anglers that 80 degrees is where they start cutting back or even stop fishing all together until the temps come down.

[Pistol Pete]

I'm one of those guys who quits fishing when the water hits 80. Not that I'm fanitical, just trying to help the musky population out. Don't want to kill a fish because then what do you do with it, seagull food?? Just my 2 cents

[Dylan33]

Pete-

Is the only reason you stop fishing because the release is that much more difficult in warm water, or is it a tougher bite as well?

[Nick Kuhn]

It's usually a tough bite when the temperatures start to climb, at least during daylight hours. Temperatures aren't a universal factor to summer fish survival. Some lakes have much lower dissolved oxygen than others (a lake like Mille Lacs probably has as much oxygen at 80 degrees as a lake like Independence has at 50 degrees). I wouldn't hang up my rods completely, but I would look to larger, clearer lakes during low light hours.

[RK]

Hiya -

For me the 80 degree mark is the cut-off. Even in the high 70s I won't take fish out of the water at all.

The warmer the water the less dissolved oxygen it can carry, and the higher the metabolic rate of the fish in the first place. Holding a fish at the surface in bathtub-warm water dramatically slows down the rate at which their systems can metabolize lactic acid generated by exertion. All adds up to a pretty stressed fish if you aren't careful.

Personal choice angles have to make obviously, but for me, if the water's that warm I'll go fish for something else and wait until it cools down. Having a fish croak on you in the heat isn't much fun.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[porterhouse]

I also don't fish for muskies when we hit the 80 degree mark. I wait for the temps to come down. Kind of sucks because our muskie season so short but got to take care of our resource!

Brian

[brad coin]

I lay off too when it gets that hot,,,however if you really cant lay off consider the many stocked tiger lakes in the metro,,,nobody wants to lose a tiger but they on average live 7 years dont reproduce so its not has much of an impact if you do stress one has losing a purestrain ,,,the lesser of two evils has far has high water temps

[Muskiefool]

Thats a great point Brad, I heard the temps were down a little on French to the 77 range from all the rain I suppose.

Big Cats may be a good alternative to killing Muskies accidentally on purpose.

Maybe a water temps post on the site would be beneficial to the fishery.

[Jeff13]

5 years ago I fished a lake that was 80 degrees. Caught a upper 30 inch fish by estimate. Never left the water, short fight and did not even net it. Popped the hooks out and she went belly up. Could have been a fluke but I never even go out once that water hits 80+. The muskies bite like [PoorWordUsage] anyways when it's that hot. Bass fishing for me when it gets hot, it's something to do.

[Castinski]

Only looking at 73 on the finder right now in the north metro. Cool nights rock.

[gooty]

looking good! fishing's been good too!

[bear05]

Thought I would bring this back up. Anyone have any updated water temps?

[50inchpig]

was 76-77 last night in north metro, anyone else looking forward to an early august cold front?

[muskieboy46]

south metro was 79-83

[brad coin]

75-76 on Mile lacs saturday

[HugoBox]

Was out with 50-Pig last week and netted a cute little 42 for the fish hog.

Instead of photos, posing and full ceremony we just lowered the net and with one tap of the tail the fish raced off.

A pretty cool way to do it in warm water and we got back to fishin much quicker as well!

[porterhouse]

77-78 on white bear this morning. Nothing in the net. Alot of floating weeds. Not fun!

Brian

[Tim_Anderson]

Haven't seen 80 yet. Mostly 74-76. Catching lots of fish and they are releasing just fine. Much of the time, we are not taking them out of the water though, just to play it safe. Take a peek over the side at em and see what you got... then pop the hooks and watch em swim away. If someone really wants a picture, we make it extra quick! Haven't seen a picture yet worth killing a musky over.