Milton Reservoir

[Quinnphoto]

Just got back from a great day of fishing Milton Reservoir. Feeling like I outsmarted some cagey wild brown trout, I get to shore and a guy tells me they just stocked the lake. Want a bummer. I mean I’ll take stocked trout but I specifically picked Milton this week for a little challenge. Anyone know if it’s true they stock this lake?

[Smitty Fish]

I haven’t herd of any plants. Sounds like you out smarted them to me.

[Quinnphoto]

I haven’t herd of any plants. Sounds like you out smarted them to me.

Well then I had an epic wild trout day then Thanks Smitty

[BS]

Just got back from a great day of fishing Milton Reservoir. Feeling like I outsmarted some cagey wild brown trout, I get to shore and a guy tells me they just stocked the lake. Want a bummer. I mean I’ll take stocked trout but I specifically picked Milton this week for a little challenge. Anyone know if it’s true they stock this lake?

Well then riddle me this Bill.

What did the browns you landed look like ?????????
Did they have beat up noses and worn down fins, and other deformities ????

I think you outsmarted them myself.

I bet the water was nice and refreshing too !!!!!!!

Glad you got out and did some Heenan practicing...................only a month away.


Bob

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think they stock mostly Rainbows?

Milton Reservoir is pretty remote to be on the planting list in today's world.

In many lakes the sneaky wild trout are usually Browns.

If you have some fish pictures we might be able to look at the fins?

[Quinnphoto]

I think they stock mostly Rainbows?

Milton Reservoir is pretty remote to be on the planting list in todays world.

In many lakes the sneaky wild trout are usually Browns.

If you have some fish pictures we might be able to look at the fins?

Didn’t catch one rainbow out of the 22 I caught. I also lost another 18. It almost felt like fishing Fuller after they stock the lake.
I could understand the fish department not sticking this lake. The dirt road isn’t that fun to drive over.

[Smitty Fish]

Milton in the fall can be very productive. Nice at that time of year with the small groves of aspens.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Chuck Campana use to love fishing Milton from his pram.

[Ralph]

I think they stock mostly Rainbows?

Planting records going back to the 70's indicate that Milton has never been stocked with rainbows. It has been managed as a max size limit brown trout fishery in an effort to out-compete the brown bullhead. The trout come out of Jackson Meadows and there is reproduction in the MF Yuba upstream of Milton. The water management regime favors fall spawning browns over the spring spawning rainbows. There are also two springs in the lake that are utilized by spawning brook trout, but they don't seem to last very long.

Poaching has long been the demise of Milton's fishery. In the winter it is a snowmobilers ice fishing destination. At ice out it can look like Swiss cheese. In the summer, loggers camping in the area descend on the lake with bait.

[Woodman]

I can't understand why enforcement has never been a priority in California. I have been fishing in California for 45 years and over that time I have been asked by a warden to see my license exactly once.