00:00The biggest threat to trout this summer isn't what's in the water, it's the air above it.
00:05Persistent heat and below average rainfall are warming rivers across the Rocky Mountain West.
00:10Colorado Parks and Wildlife says lower stream flows and warmer water mean less dissolved oxygen,
00:16making it harder for trout to recover after the stress of being caught and released.
00:20It's a growing regional concern. Colorado has issued voluntary fishing recommendations on
00:25portions of several rivers, while Montana has implemented restrictions or closures
00:29on more than a dozen waterways as temperatures continue to climb.
00:33Experts say anglers should carry a stream thermometer and think twice before casting
00:37when water temperatures begin approaching 70 degrees.
00:39Fishing during the cooler morning hours, landing fish quickly, and keeping them submerged during release
00:45can all help reduce stress on already vulnerable trout.
00:49As summer heat continues across the West, experts say a few simple decisions by anglers
00:53can help protect these cold water fisheries for seasons to come.
00:56For AccuWeather, meteorologist Tony Laubach.
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