This week has been a hot one in the Pacific Northwest! And with
extremely warm summer temperatures, the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is asking anglers to take special care
when catching and releasing fish. “Fish mortality can increase
drastically when water temperatures reach 74 degrees,” explained
ODFW officials. “Since warm water does not hold as much oxygen
as cooler water, fish are getting less oxygen while they are
being caught, and take longer to recover once they are
released.” When fishing during prolonged periods of warm
weather, ODFW is recommending the following practices to help
minimize the negative impact on fish populations: - Fish early
in the mornings when water temperatures are lower. - Fish in
lakes and reservoirs with deep waters that provide a cooler
refuge for fish. - Use barbless hooks, land fish quickly and
keep them in the water as much as possible in order to minimize
stress. - Shift your fishing efforts to higher elevation
mountain lakes and streams where water temp