There’s good reason of the most popular swim baits for LMB in California reservoirs is an 8” rainbow trout jointed lure.
I haven't fished there in a number of year, but besides warmwater fish predation how much do you think birds may also be playing a part?
Seems crazy to spend money on cutthroat if they aren't really contributing much to catches.
SF
Seems crazy to spend money on cutthroat if they aren't really contributing much to catches.
SF
I go back 10-15 yrs at Martha WB (whenever Dave/Ceviche first took me there). All my experience bares that out, and I've found that to be the case almost everywhere else. Martha has a very good history of fat 20+" browns; I've never seen sizable warmwater fish there - plenty of dinks; carryover RB's have typically been solid (and fun), and I'll add the jumbos are worth looking for and not hard to find - seek them in the weeks following arrival (assuming that's still a thing).
Also of note, Martha's year round regs have served her well, as the masses tend to focus on nearby Lk Ki. Of those who fish using gear, they tend to be little impact on the game we're most interested in. Timing, location, methods and a general lack of ability are factors in all my observation - pretty typical stuff.
In all that time, the present is by far the worst I've encountered tbere for brown trout. My last was Nov 2021 and I only had a single one, albeit a nice fish. Granted I'm out of state and don't go there often these days, but I know what to expect. That said, I'd be surprised if they didn't come back around. And I've seen very similar cycles among browns in other lakes, Pass among them.
Until then, it's still a good rainbow fishery - if anything Martha could use a few less. Plus if warmwater species are becoming more of a trend there I'd change focus. Sizable crappie and bass are great fun on a fly.
Just wish we had a better program for brown trout in Ohio lakes. I'd be very interested to see how they compare with the rainbows in this environment.
Last thought - from above regarding bird predation - anything that thins out fish stocks is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Washington's #1 issue for trout in lakes: Overpopulation
I'm a little blown away with the shear number of fish being dumped into a 63 acre lake on an annual basis. Personally, I would not expect many of the fingerlings to reach catchable size - it must be a helluva productive lake. I just read Brian's comment and agree wholeheartedly, if few if any cutthroat reach catchable size, why does the state continue to dump 1000's in each year?
dflett68
Steelhead
except none of the bows are planted as fry and the species that ARE planted as fry are nowhere to be found. i don't doubt there are some alpha lmb in there that could choke down one of the planted legals once or twice a week - but a lake that size can only accomodate so many of those specimens, right? and there are still plenty of those bows getting caught. i think it is the fry those bass and crappie are feasting on.
maybe the secret strategy is to create an exceptional bass and crappie fishery by feeding them 15,000 trout babies every spring, then distracting the trout anglers with a few easily catch-able legals =)
dflett68
Steelhead
"catchable size" - the thing i find curious is i've never caught a trout there below "catchable" size. where are the stages between fry and 10"? with that many fry planted each spring - you would think you'd run across them in schools. i know i'm not a good enough angler to avoid them on purpose!
Uptonogood
PNW raised
As I recall, the lakes were in the Sad Diego area which was producing potential world record LMB frequently.
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
Guest
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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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Tombraider
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Bambooflyguy
Life of the Party
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
Guest
Jeez-another misogynist that can't bear a successful woman.....
