No Fish Dry July encourages anglers to ask themselves “do I really need a photo of my fish?” and challenges them not to take a single fish photo during July.   

This month-long challenge was created to raise awareness about the impact of rising water temperatures on fish, especially cold water species. As water temperature rises, fish become physiologically stressed and the time it takes for them to recover from capture and handling increases, as does their chance of mortality after release.

During one of the hottest months of the year, we encourage anglers to give our fish a break by keeping them wet and releasing them quickly.  

Instead of fish pics, we will be posting other artful shots of the summer angling experience, and we hope you will do the same. This simple shift in the fishing community’s catch-and-release behavior could do years of good for our fish’s home water.

At Keep Fish Wet, we are challenging ourselves to make a 31-day commitment to not take a single photo of a fish or to post a photo of a fish on social media.

Are you up for joining us?

No Fish Dry July was developed in partnership with Phillip Clark Design, a Minneapolis-based designer with a big passion for smallies on the fly.

No Fish Dry july Giveaway

As a thank you to those who step up to the challenge of No Fish Dry July we’ve partnered with some friends on a giveaway.  

To enter: 1️⃣ Tag your fish-less photos #NoFishDryJuly and #KeepFishWet  on Instagram. 2️⃣ Follow @keep.fish.wet on Instagram

Grand Prize  Yellow Dog Fly Shop $200 gift certificate (can be used in-store or online) TroutRoutes Lifetime PRO Membership and hat Patagonia Guidewater Duffle 80L Patagonia Travel Rod Roll  Fulling Mill Signature Tyer Selection box of 12 flies. Keep Fish Wet sticker pack and YETI mug

First Prize Patagonia Guidewater Duffle 80L Patagonia Travel Rod Roll  TroutRoutes 1-year PRO Membership and hat Fulling Mill Signature Tyer Selection box of 12 flies Keep Fish Wet sticker pack and YETI mug

Second Prize Patagonia Travel Rod Roll  TroutRoutes 1-year PRO Membership and hat Fulling Mill Signature Tyer Selection box of 12 flies Keep Fish Wet sticker pack and YETI mug and flask 

Third Prize Patagonia Travel Rod Roll  TroutRoutes 1-year PRO Membership and hat Fulling Mill Signature Tyer Selection box of 12 flies Keep Fish Wet sticker pack and YETI mug

Winners will be chosen via random drawing of all qualifying entries and announced on August 1. U.S. residents only, 18+. Giveaway ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM EDT. This giveaway isn’t sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram. Winners will be contacted by @keep.fish.wet only. Details here: https://www.keepfishwet.org/blog/nfdj-giveaway-rules

Have you ever wondered why 68F is the recommended water temperature to stop fishing for trout?  Yeah, us too.  

We recently did a deep dive into the science on the impacts of water temperature and fishing on various trout species and did not find anything to support the idea that 68F should be the stopping point.  We did, however, find that we need to start being aware of what’s going on with trout at lower water temperatures…like MUCH lower.

It turns out it’s not as simple as recommending a single “stop fishing here” temperature.  There are nuances. So instead, we are coining the phrase “angling threshold” — the water temperature at which the chance of a fish dying due to the impacts of water temperature and angling goes from being low and steady to rising exponentially.  This is the water temperature at which we believe anglers need to start paying attention, use our science-based Principles and Tips more diligently, and at which some may choose to stop fishing altogether.    

Check out the latest Finsights to discover the angling threshold for your favorite trout species and stay tuned throughout July to learn more and participate.