Fish don’t do much if water is too hot or too cold, so you might not want to waste your time fly fishing in certain weather conditions. Use this guide, (along with a thermometer) to decide if you’re going to fish or stay home and clean your fly gear. (All temperatures are in Fahrenheit.)
| Type of Fish | Lower Limit | Optimum | Upper Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | |||
| Bluegill | 58˚ | 69˚ | 75˚ |
| Brook Trout | 44˚ | 58˚ | 70˚ |
| Brown Trout | 44˚ | 56˚– 65˚ | 75˚ |
| Channel Catfish | 55˚ | 82˚– 89˚ | na |
| Coho Salmon | 44˚ | 54˚ | 60˚ |
| Lake Trout | 42˚ | 50˚– 59˚ | na |
| Largemouth Bass | 50˚ | 65˚– 75˚ | 85˚ |
| Muskellunge | 55˚ | 63˚ | 72˚ |
| Northern Pike | 56˚ | 63˚ | 74˚ |
| Rainbow Trout | 44˚ | 61˚ | 75˚ |
| Smallmouth Bass | 60˚ | 65˚– 68˚ | 73˚ |
| Walleye | 50˚ | 67˚ | 76˚ |
| Saltwater | |||
| Bluefish | 50˚ | 62˚– 72˚ | 84˚ |
| Bonefish | 64˚ | 75˚ | 88˚ |
| Cod | 31˚ | 44˚– 49˚ | 59˚ |
| Dolphin Fish | 70˚ | 75˚ | 82˚ |
| Fluke | 56˚ | 66˚ | 72˚ |
| Red Snapper | 50˚ | 57˚ | 62˚ |
| Redfish | 52˚ | 71˚ | 90˚ |
| Snook | 69˚ | 70˚– 75˚ | 90˚ |
| Speckled Trout | 48˚ | 72˚ | 81˚ |
| Tarpon | 74˚ | na | 100˚+ |