DROUGHT/FISHING -- A story coming Sunday will looking into Western trout, salmon and steelhead fisheries that are in hot water because of drought and warm water conditions.

Some anglers have wondered why there are not restrictions on the North Fork Coeur d'Alene, a prized cutthroat trout stream that's running warm and at record low flows.  For example, Montana has enacted "hoot owl" restrictions that prohibit fishing 2 p.m.-11 p.m. on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers to avoid overstressing trout in excessively warm waters.

Here's part of an explanation received in an interview for Sunday's story with Andy Dux, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional fisheries manager in Coeur d'Alene:

Fish typically seek out thermal refuge when temperatures get warm.  This could be by moving upstream into headwater reaches, into cooler tributaries, etc.  That combined with the reduced activity they exhibit when stressed (making them less likely to be caught) are the two reasons we have not put angling restrictions in play for our local rivers. 

In most summers we end up with lower flows and higher temps in parts of our rivers and streams and fish have to contend with these conditions.....it's just happening much earlier and could be more prolonged this year.

Click here for tips on warm-weather fishing and a fly fishing report from Silver Bow Fly Shop.