Heenan Lake Updates?

[GoldenStone]

Been looking all over online for any Heenan Lake reports. Can't find anything. Does anyone have any reports for Heenan this month?

[markem8]

I fished it last Friday and Saturday. Very crowded, had to park outside the gate both days. Results were mixed from what I saw. I landed 5 Friday and 3 Saturday which seemed to be above the norm.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Here is the regulation on Heenan Lake:

The regulations to Heenan Lake is a strict catch and release on barbless hooks on flies or artificial lures.

The season opens on the Friday before Labor Day and continues until the last Sunday of October.

You can only fish Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday through Thursday are not allowed.



My feedback has always been to be sure to go in October if you are only going once this year.

[Woodman]

I fished it last Friday and Saturday. Very crowded, had to park outside the gate both days. Results were mixed from what I saw. I landed 5 Friday and 3 Saturday which seemed to be above the norm.

I miss the days when there were 15 people tops out there...

[cdevine]

I don't get why they don't open it up for 2 months Sept-Oct full time. Most of our fisheries should have shorter seasons (think Little Truckee) but here is a Lake that is open basically on the weekends for 2 months. Would 2 months C&R only create a problem? Maybe even buy a LCT stamp?

Do people guide out there?

[TigerLilly]

DFW has to pay staff to be there during open days which has always been a tough sell, not only for funding, but because hunting season is ramping up and field personnel are stretched thin. Water temperature can also be an issue early in the season. Since it is the brood stock for a threatened species, there has always been a level of concern regarding allowing angling at all. If certain exotic/invasive species get introduced into the lake any number of headaches are sure to follow.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Nice video.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flDIap90PPY

[Morgan]

There has not been anyone the last couple years checking fish, people params etc the last few years. Funding is always an issue as there has been nobody to open the gate generally. And it doesn't seem too busy when everyone is on their own boat etc. Although does get pretty old when the "crowd" starts crowding you because they can't catch fish. They are every where in that lake...you just gotta figure it out.

It was windy in the afternoon last weekend. A big group of us were camping and fishing. we fished mornings and evenings. I got 7 friday, 9 saturday and we left early sunday...slower bite.

[cdevine]

DFW has to pay staff to be there during open days which has always been a tough sell, not only for funding, but because hunting season is ramping up and field personnel are stretched thin. Water temperature can also be an issue early in the season. Since it is the brood stock for a threatened species, there has always been a level of concern regarding allowing angling at all. If certain exotic/invasive species get introduced into the lake any number of headaches are sure to follow.


Thanks for background info.

Marlette is another brood stock lake that personally I fish because its more of a challenge to get too and rarely see anybody. Plus the season is longer. Looks like some nice fish come out of Heenan this year. Not really my style but certainly a good option if you like stillwater.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Marlette Lake = 5 mile by hiking, horse or mountain bike.

http://www.ndow.org/Bodies_Of_Water/Marlette_Lake/

[GoldenStone]

Thanks Markem... We ended going that Sunday... not crowded AT ALL... Plenty of parking within lot. Mixed results... Spoon chucker landed 10. Fly fishers we saw had no more than a couple. We mainly fished the eastern shoreline fm shore. Missed a couple. Did not see a lot of cruisers in the semi murkyish waters. Then a couple bumps on my tube. Cousin got one fm shore on the way out finally.
BTW, they are planting big boys on the East Carson. I landed an 18-inch triploid and lost another on #18 Cals Birds Nest... But didn't fish long as a big mama Black Bear was sizing us up in the tall grass on the other side. Scary...