100% agree. We had a good discussion about quality versus quantity on the old board. In particular regarding our so called quality lakes, which in my opinion really aren't that quality.
Many put and take lakes offer a lot better fishing in my experience but even some of those are way too heavily planted at times.
I totally get that some people enjoy quantity. I just find myself in the former group.
SF
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Man. Tough for me to sound in here on the current thread, as I haven’t been able to fish Martha as much as I would’ve liked over the past few years. Missing trends, you know.
What I can say is that good sized trout are to be found but not where they were when it was still C&T. I have noticed that LMB are common in habitat that Browns used to occupy in and around shore structure. If you think about it, snaggy shoreline is typical LMB habitat. However, if one fished in winter on a good weather day (
), I suspect you should get into some quality Browns. I was gone working the last two winters, so there you are. I can only guess.
As far as the cutthroats are concerned, they’ve always been tough to find. And I mean always. My only luck has been with small fly patterns #12 and definitely under. I haven’t caught enough to understand them.
The huge Black Crappie? I caught one of about the same size amongst the weeds at the east end shallows. Unless they die off in Winter, I no longer see much point in fishing the shallows there. Over a decade ago, they weren’t as thick and as close to the surface.
Thing is, as the water warms, spiny ray fish will become more active and quicker to take your fly than a trout—especially in water less than 10ft deep.
I hear it’s been raining a lot lately (I’m in Hawaii at the moment) and it looks like it’s going to be one very wet June. If the evening temps are cold enough, there might still be some opportunities to still get in some decent fishing. Otherwise, it’s been my practice to leave Martha alone come June, when the temps consistently stays in the high 60s and into the 70s. Just too many perch and bass getting in the way, as well as trout getting stressed.
Tight Lines!
—Dave E.
What I can say is that good sized trout are to be found but not where they were when it was still C&T. I have noticed that LMB are common in habitat that Browns used to occupy in and around shore structure. If you think about it, snaggy shoreline is typical LMB habitat. However, if one fished in winter on a good weather day (
), I suspect you should get into some quality Browns. I was gone working the last two winters, so there you are. I can only guess. As far as the cutthroats are concerned, they’ve always been tough to find. And I mean always. My only luck has been with small fly patterns #12 and definitely under. I haven’t caught enough to understand them.
The huge Black Crappie? I caught one of about the same size amongst the weeds at the east end shallows. Unless they die off in Winter, I no longer see much point in fishing the shallows there. Over a decade ago, they weren’t as thick and as close to the surface.
Thing is, as the water warms, spiny ray fish will become more active and quicker to take your fly than a trout—especially in water less than 10ft deep.
I hear it’s been raining a lot lately (I’m in Hawaii at the moment) and it looks like it’s going to be one very wet June. If the evening temps are cold enough, there might still be some opportunities to still get in some decent fishing. Otherwise, it’s been my practice to leave Martha alone come June, when the temps consistently stays in the high 60s and into the 70s. Just too many perch and bass getting in the way, as well as trout getting stressed.
Tight Lines!
—Dave E.
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Tombraider
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Tombraider
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One had a big gash, this lake has my attention. Lots of bass fishing today. 2 gals came out and was fishing power bait. I clued them in on sign and rules. Every time I go their poachers.
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Tombraider
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Tombraider
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You may have issues. When I heard about that I said yuk.
What do you mean I MAY have issues? At my age I've proudly accumulated a lifetime of issues.
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Bambooflyguy
Legend
I said the same but with a F!! I won’t be rushing out to get that issue with that bread making prison hag.....
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Tombraider
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Jeez-another misogynist that can't bear a successful woman.....
Bambooflyguy
Legend
I have no problems with successful women....but her.....my .02
Old406Kid
Legend
This is the situation where I have to question the planting of fingerlings.
There's a Selective lake near Spokane that has really gone down the toilet in recent years and I have to believe that fingerling predation has to be a significant contributor. I'm certainly no biologist but it seems like stocking larger fish in lakes that have a spiny ray population would make far more sense and result in better survival.
Sorry for the drift.
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Tombraider
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Never seen one
Bambooflyguy
Legend
I wish I could give you a “don’t like!”
I've caught them in the past, but that was quite a long time ago. They were very tough to find and catch. And they were never interested in any of the flies that worked on the RBs and BTs. My best there was 16". I haven't checked the recent plantings, so can't speak to matters of holdovers and such.