Improving your “Thermal Awareness” with the Temperature Tape Net Thermometer from Cling Fishing Products

by: MATT KLARA

Water temperature is, arguably, the most important environmental condition that influences how we fish throughout the year.  It is water temperature that ultimately dictates whether we go ice fishing or stay home tying flies rather than fly fishing.  It is water temperature that triggers the timing our favorite insect hatches.  It is water temperature that dictates a trout’s metabolic status, overall happiness, and willingness to “move” for our flies.  And it is water temperature that defines when it is no longer appropriate to practice Catch & Release in the warmer months.

As such, I and the other Big Sky Anglers have always been strong proponents of carrying and regularly using some sort of stream thermometer.  In the past, that meant stopping for a minute, digging deep into a pocket to (hopefully) find that thermometer, and then soaking it and your hand for long enough to get an accurate reading.  Some of us (it was me) have definitely skipped the effort from time to time and just hoped for the best.  That’s fine when the only thing on the line is catching a trout, but when it’s a potential matter of life and death for the fish we love when water temps rise, not knowing the water temperature is downright negligent.

Now, with the Temperature Tape net thermometer from Cling, we (I) no longer have an excuse.  Most anglers, and all guides that we know carry a net with them to help with landing and safely releasing fish.  The Temperature Tape is an adhesive backed thermometer that securely fastens to your fishing net or any other smooth surface and tells you the water temperature within 1-2 degrees (between 40 and 84 degrees, Fahrenheit). This thermometer also features a "safe zone" outlined in green, a "warning zone" outlined in yellow, and a "danger zone" outlined in red to ensure the user is aware of when the water temps are safe for trout and when they're not.  Slick! 

For $7, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bang for your fishing buck.  We thought these were a little bit silly too, at first, but our Temperature Tapes have gone a long way to improve our own thermal awareness.  The simplicity is what makes it so great.  Taking water temps every 30 minutes has become a part of the routine, rather than an effort outside of it.  Just dunk the handle or hang the net overboard and check in after 30 seconds or so.

Aside from being a super handy tool for telling whether or not water temps are safe for proper catch and release, we have found this little gadget to be a quick and easy tool for informing how we should be fishing when temps are safe.  When temps are low, below 40 degrees, we know that fish are likely to be in a state of low metabolic needs, making them less willing to move fast or travel farther for our flies.  In those situations we know that fishing "low and slow" will be the key to hooking some fish.  These are also ideal water temps for soaking a couple of cans of your favorite beverage to enjoy with your buddy after you release a nice trout.  When the temps are in the sweet spot from the mid 50s to the low 60s, we expect fish to be active and willing to rise for dries or chase a retrieved fly in stillwaters, and to fight like mad when hooked.  We also expect to see one of our favorite hatches during a day on the water.  When temps are in the 40 to low 50s range, we find knowing the temperature or the trend of water temperature to be particularly important.  Rising temps are usually matched with happy active fish.  Falling temps in this range can be trickier.  Depending on which we see, we might fish more or less aggressively, or target a different portion of the river or water column. 

Whether you are already a regular temperature checker, or a checker only when the water starts getting warm, the Temperature Tape is a super handy tool.  Start using it and logging notes in your metal database or fishing journal. Over time, your own thermal awareness, angling success, and overall experience will certainly grow.