I hit The river upcountry yesterday. I figured the water temp. Might be in the high 60’s, but on my thermometer it was 70*. It’s now, at least for me, Smallmouth time until mid-September. No one, in good conscience, can fish salmonids when the water temps hit the 70*+ mark.
Maybe Maine should emulate some Western states and institute Hoot Owl regulations. With climate change September is the new August, so it will probably be at least the third week of the month......perhaps the fourth, before I start fishing salmonids again.
Dave M
It’s long past time for warm weather protocols for salmonids, IMO, at least on moving water. The ‘hoot owl’ regs of the western US are but one example. Much closer to home, just across the border in New Brunswick- the Province enacts and enforces targeted closures at known cold water refugia. Unfortunately, such are solely just angling closures.
I heard a report from one Atlantic salmon camp last night whom had tubers rafting the river pull in to such a cold water refuge and proceed to swim in the cold water and chase fish around, etc... In the past, when such has occurred, several 30 lb+ salmon have been found dead after from the stress. Angling closures alone don’t solve all problems. Recreational closures of cold water refugia should affect all use groups.
Anyway- I’m fishing the salt until the water cools. The striper nite has been pretty good of late.