Martis Creek Lake 5-8

[gene goss]

I like to thank Scott V. for twisting my arm.....lol...I have never taken the time to stop and fish Martis but when Scott called and ask if i like to check out Martis....i said why not...the lake is kind of on the small size....it does have lots of weed beds and a deep channel....the catching was a little slow for me.....but i did catch a very nice brown in the afternoon that made the day for me....Scott was using a #3 line and was putting the hurt on me....water temp. 46 degree. http://s179.photobucket.com/home/eugene047

[SHigSpeed]

I like to thank Scott V. for twisting my arm.....lol...I have never taken the time to stop and fish Martis but when Scott called and ask if i like to check out Martis....i said why not...the lake is kind of on the small size....it does have lots of weed beds and a deep channel....the catching was a little slow for me.....but i did catch a very nice brown in the afternoon that made the day for me....Scott was using a #3 line and was putting the hurt on me....water temp. 46 degree. http://s179.photobucket.com/home/eugene047

That is a FATTY! I guess all you guys fared better than I did. I think the warmer water in the afternoon helped, though my first and only fish came only a few minutes from getting wet.

Oh well, I still love the place. Just not my morning.

_SHig

[Scott V]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w300/eugene047/martislake5-8-10.jpg

[Scott V]

What do you get when you have the following rules:
No motors electric or gas
No bait, artificial lures and flies only
100% catch and release
No planting

You get a lake full of wild rainbows, browns, and cutthroats. Now if only more lakes were like this, not all of them, but at least a couple more. Gene and I meet up with Shig and Blueracer for a day of fun in the sun. The day started off real nice then quickly turned to wind. Even though the fishing was not red hot it was still nice to be on the water with good friends. I managed 2 rainbows and about 4 or so browns. I started with a type 3 line then after a couple hours changed to an intermediate once I saw Gene fishing an area that was too shallow for my type 3, plus he was catching fish. I know the fishing can be better since my friend was just their the other day and had a good day on the water. Water temp ranged anywhere from 42 to 51 depending on the sun and the depth. The fish were real fast on the bite, I lost and missed a bunch of bites. I plan to go back once the water has warmed up a bit.

[Blueracer]

A total fatty!

The wind is always a factor there apparently but we certainly had a stonger winde than the norm.

Gene check your PM's. SV - do you think the guy I spoke to out on the lake was talking about the person, your friend that went last week? Mentioned more details in the e-mail.

Was great to meet you Gene and I'm glad a nice fish like that was able to come to hand for you and make the day.

[gene goss]

Hey Scott why don't you post a picture of that picture i took of you....its about the average size trout....I was impressed with how hard these wilded trout can pulled.....you'll think that this is a great lake for a 3 weight.....but with all the weeds.....and a chance to hook a big fish a 6 weight might be a little light.....

[Scott V]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2575.jpg

Here is a picture inside the out tube, it would not be a fun trip if you fell in here.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2577.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2578.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2580.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2583.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2586.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Martis%20Creek/IMGP2588.jpg

[RenoLipRipper]

Nice fish. I was going to go to Martis on 5-7, Friday but instead went to Davis. Will go later.

[jigger]

ScottV,
You are a crazy sob getting right up on that drain tube :confused:
That gives me the eebs deep down. Just the thought

[Scott V]

ScottV,
You are a crazy sob getting right up on that drain tube :confused:
That gives me the eebs deep down. Just the thought

The flow was strong enough to pull my float tube up against the wall. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but I knew I was bigger than the opening as long as I did not fall off my tube. I have to get that adrenalin going every now and then.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

What do you get when you have the following rules:
No motors electric or gas
No bait, artificial lures and flies only
100% catch and release
No planting

You get a lake full of wild rainbows, browns, and cutthroats.


Scott- The Lahontan Cutthroats in Martis are not wild as there are only 2 lakes that have naturally reproducing LCT.One is Summit Lake in Nevada and the other Independence Lake in Sierra/Nevada Counties. As far as the browns go they are wild ,but i am unsure of the rainbows.

Looks like you guys had a great time enjoying a beautiful lake! Excellent!!

Jay

[SHigSpeed]

Scott- The Lahontan Cutthroats in Martis are not wild as there are only 2 lakes that have naturally reproducing LCT.One is Summit Lake in Nevada and the other Independence Lake in Sierra/Nevada Counties. As far as the browns go they are wild ,but i am unsure of the rainbows.

Looks like you guys had a great time enjoying a beautiful lake! Excellent!!

Jay

Jay,

Are you saying DFG actively plants LCT in Martis? I've never seen it on a plan list.

_SHig

[Scott V]

Thanks for the info Jay, so how do they get in there. I was told they do not plant that lake and the picture of a cutthroat by buddy caught earlier this week was a smaller fish, not something that has been in there for awhile.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Yes,LCT have been planted in Martis.Whether or not the DFG continues to plant them there is anybodies guess.

Jay

[SHigSpeed]

This makes sense. LCT were the native fish in the watershed before they dammed it up and planted the browns and 'bows. Of course they poisoned it and tried to restore the LCT and failed. At some point browns came back so they threw their hands up and planted 'bows and then some joker planted the sunfish.

I'm betting most if not all fish in there now are probably wild, though only the LCT are somewhat native.

_SHig

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Scott & Gene..............wonderful fish and photos.

I think that should inspire some of us to get our float tubes out and dust them off.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Shig-
Once again the LCT in Martis are not wild.They were planted and do not naturally produce in Martis Cr.End of story.


Jay

[bigfly]

Fish it early in the season. They don't fill it anymore, so temps go up, and fish get sluggish later.
Great water for larger browns off the face of the dam.
Heard a rumor that they might harvest the weeds this season. (A by-product of three golf courses.)
I remember stalking fatties from shore with a blood midge, now you need a pretty good cast to get a fly into the water from shore!
I hope there is a special level in Dante's hell for guys that move fish around, as well as coarse developers..
The red ears are a unwanted load on this nice little fishery. Although a big brown might eat one or two....

Jim

[SHigSpeed]

Shig-
Once again the LCT in Martis are not wild.They were planted and do not naturally produce in Martis Cr.End of story.


Jay

Jay,

From a CA DFG fisheries biologist specialist:

"Martis Creek Reservoir is a designated wild trout water and is not stocked with domestic -strain trout. It has been stocked with LCT and Eagle Lake rainbow trout on occasion over the past years, and it is likely the fish you catch are survivors of these plants or their progeny. It has been a few years since Martis Lake has been planted - the last plant in my records was 2001 of LCT. Thank you for your interest in Martis Creek Reservoir fishery."

Based on this, and the size of the fish caught, I've gotta think that all those fish are indeed born in the creeks and wild.

The story continues.

_SHig

[Blueracer]

Yay. Glad you did the research _Shig 'cause I like that story best.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

If those fish are indeed wild it will be the first time that LCT have been able to compete successfully with browns and rainbows for spawning grounds and food sources. A good thing if indeed true.

Also please share the final trit document with blue racer so he too can learn a bit more about LCT recovery in the Truckee River Basin.

Jay

PS who is the biologist that you talked with?

[bigfly]

Jay, talked to the guy who runs Martis yesterday, he said lake level has been maintained at the current level for 12 years. He said it was stocked last with cutties in 2004-05 season.
Would have fished it, but the last trip to pyramid, I knocked a hole in my boat.
Good thing we noticed before we got to the far side.
A friend caught a few cutties, a brown, and got one unidentfied huge grab.....
Not much greenery in the water right now, temps are good. Saw blood midges too.
Be a good time to go.

Jim