I’m sure I don’t have to remind anybody reading this piece that those of us inhabiting this part of the state are experiencing a serious lack of rain over the past couple of months. This lack of rain has taken its toll on a number of my neighbors’ wells — mine included.

The area of the “Muncy Hills,” where I live, has long been known for its problems with drilled wells providing sufficient water for households, and in the past month alone, I am aware of at least six wells that have pumped dry. But even if you don’t experience well problems, a glance at any nearby stream, or even the Susquehanna River itself, quickly reveals a severe lack of water flow. Some small streams are completely devoid of water, and many mid-sized waterways consist more of exposed rocks with only occasional pockets of shallow water, and herein lies the problem for a number of our fish species.

While the present conditions may not be ideal, many of our fish species will hold up well, especially in lakes where deeper, cooler water can be occupied. Unfortunately, however, our smallmouth bass and trout population, which for the most part, inhabit our rivers and streams, are, in some cases having a difficult time coping.

This aspect of trout survival became very apparent to me last week when someone showed me a video of what appeared to be maybe a hundred trout or more jammed into a small pool of water in a stream where a smaller, colder stream entered the larger body of water. The trout slithered and thrashed around each other in an effort to stay in the cooler pool of water. At least a half-dozen trout were dead and belly up nearby. I believe the video was taken last month.

This lack of water flow in rivers and streams creates a number of problems for trout. Of all of our fish species in Pennsylvania, trout are the ones requiring cooler temperatures to survive and thrive. After doing some further checking, I found that brown trout and rainbow trout can tolerate higher water temperatures than brook trout, and these days most of our larger streams are being stocked with browns and rainbows. Temperatures can become lethal for these trout when they reach 79 degrees; however, trout could survive brief periods if temperatures dropped six to eleven degrees each night. Hopefully, now that we have had some cooler temperatures lately, the trout will be better able to cope.

Another concern is the lack of oxygen in the warming, more stagnant water. Oxygen is essential for the fish’s respiration, and a fish’s oxygen requirements increase markedly at elevated temperatures. However, the solubility of oxygen decreases with rising temperatures; that’s possibly what led to the trout’s death mentioned earlier in the video.

If the above-mentioned circumstances were not enough stress for trout in these low water conditions, we can add another situation that can no doubt add to potential losses. When water levels reach such low, clear levels, it also exposes trout to a host of predators that are all too willing to take advantage of the situation. The list is fairly long; Great Blue Herons, raccoons, fishers, mink, ospreys, and eagles. This past week I’ve seen a pair of mature eagles flying up and down Muncy Creek on a couple of occasions, and you can bet they’re checking out potential meals in the low, clear water.

With the circumstances being what they are, it would not be wise to target trout right now when fishing. Fall can produce some good trout fishing but not with the present conditions. I’m sure the cooler temperatures are coming, and hopefully, we will get the much-needed rain as well. In the meantime, I’m headed for a nearby lake where I can fish the deeper, cooler water for some nice crappies.