The state Department of Environmental Conservation is asking anglers to take care with cold-water fish as water temperatures rise due to heat and lack of rain.

The DEC says that cold-water species such as trout and salmon require cold water to survive, and with lake temperatures rising, the species are susceptible to heat, stress and even death.

Steps that anglers can take include not doing catch-and-release fishing for heat-stressed fish, since the fish face more chance of death no matter how carefully they are handled.

The DEC also says that anglers can avoid fishing for these species when they are gathered in larger than normal numbers. The fish will seek pockets of cold water to deal with the heat, and DEC asks anglers not to take advantage of this situation.

Anglers can also fish earlier in the day before stream and lake temperatures rise. Fishers can also go to “Plan B” and fish for different species if the water temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.