Springs tend to attract trout for several reasons, the most notable being that they bring much-needed cool water and oxygen to the system. They also serve as nurseries for juvenile fish and baitfish.

“Sometimes where there are areas of upwelling coming into the lake, like seeps where groundwater is seeping in and underwater springs, you’ll find a lot of trout,” Ramsey said.

Once you locate springs or upwelling sites, you have two choices. Trolling lures through the spring is one option, or simply anchor and use baitfish.

“Those trout are going to be fairly close to the bottom if the water is warm,” explained Ramsey. “But they will come higher in the water column, particularly in the evening. A lot of times, the big fish will come up near the surface in the evening.”

He targets springs at high mountain lakes the same way that he does in lowland reservoirs. “I start off my season fishing the lowland lakes, because I can’t get to the high mountain lakes. Then in the summer, I fish my same tactics over at the high mountain lakes.”

Ramsey said his tactics don’t change much, but his location and where he puts his focus do change.

“With springs, however, you fish them the same, no matter where they are,” he said.

Dams are another spot that lures trout in the summer months, especially in lowland reservoirs where water temperatures are likely to rise in the summer. Dams attract trout for several reasons. The three most important are that:

• They maintain deep water,

• They serve as habitat for baitfish and other food sources for trout, and

• There is colder water available.

Having deeper, cooler water is a given. But many anglers overlook the value of dams as a home for other species. Dams provide havens for small baitfish, crawdads, insects and other smaller fish that trout eat.

These species use the rocks on the face of the dam as protection from predators, and in turn, trout come to these areas to feed. If you spend more time targeting dams in the warmer months, you’re likely to see your catch rates increase.

4) EXPERIMENT
Summertime tends to be the best time of year to find active trout, which means it’s also a great time to experiment.

By trying lures and baits that you don’t normally use, you are bound to stumble upon patterns, sizes and colors that will increase your probability of catching more trout in the waters you’re fishing already.

“In the summer, the trout are the most active,” said professional trout fishing guide Mike Nielsen, a Pautzke, Bomber, Rebel and Silver Thread pro staffer.

“They have a high metabolism. You’ll find them feeding on a variety of baits. You can get them on pretty much anything.”

Nielsen said he uses more types of lures than at any other time of year.

Variety is the key. Use an array of sizes, colors and patterns until you find one that works. This could mean testing spoons, spinners, stickbaits, small swimbaits and flasher and dodger combos.