Has anybody been over to Lenice, Merry or Nunnally? Is it too early? Still seems like it might be too cold especially for a float tube, but I would love to get out. Thanks for any advice.

Read in the PI that the opener was ok 2-3 fish per guy with some top sticks getting into double digits. Water must warmed a bit


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Buddy of mine hit Merry for the opener. They averaged 12/day over 3 days. Said it was real cold, with some patches of ice on the water. Sounds like there were a $hit load of people camped in the lot.

The east side of the state has been seeing record breaking cold the last few days. Supposed to start warming up by the weekend, but there may be more ice this weekend, than there was last weekend.

Sounds like I would be better off staying home and working to finish chores around the house that might prevent me from going later. I have been in March in past years and frozen. Thanks for the reports/advice.

I always caught my biggest fish over there right after the March 1st opener in Eastern Wa. Once the ice is gone, the big fish would come out ready to feed.
If anyone got to fish some of the seep lakes like Upper Hampton when they used to open March 1st, you'd know what I'm talking about.
You might freeze your ass off, but well worth it for a shot at some serious fat, hard fighting toads. Those fish weren't triploid zombies either.

You are just making my decision more difficult. I have done well at some alpine lakes fishing the ice off or during the feed time right before fall.

Sorry

I'll be heading that way next weekend. I'd be there this weekend if it wasn't for meeting with the tax man.

Been there done that got the t-shirt. You seen the 2 hog rainbows mounted up @ Mar-dons?? I was the other boat on Upper Hampton that March day when dude put the wood to those w/ his home made spoons....


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Yes, I've seen them. Hogs indeed. All those lakes have or had their moments. Even some of the tiny lakes put out hogs. I've alway liked to hit them the third year after they've been rehabbed. There may not be a lot carryovers left, but you better hold on if you hook up with one.
I wish those lakes still opened March 1st.
There is also some great flyrod carp fishing back in the refuge. Big bows and golden bonefish, a winning combo

When you go, try a pattern like a Skunk (in size 14), or anythink with black and a thick silver tinsel rib and fish it at night. Killer results.

Fishing unweighted black leaches on a floating line at night is one of the most effective ways to catch those fish over there. Cool (and often a little creepy) bobbing around in the float tube at 2 AM too.

Creepy is right Kaiser. It is those damn bats that freak me out, especially when they fly into your rod while you're casting.

Creepy? I hear that when the rattle snakes are active, they have been known to try to hitch a ride on your float tube.

One of my favorite times fishing ever was over at Lenice at night. My buddy and I were camped on the lake. We would cast out a big stimulator and wait. Could not see the fly on the water but we would set the hook when we heard a sip or a splash. Half the time you had a nice fish to fight. The other times you spent 5 minutes untangling your fly from the tree behind you. Caught a lot of fish that way. Happily lost a lot of sleep that way.

Also have done very well trolling black wooly buggers after dark. I learned that the best way to find my way back to the takeout was to hang a flashing LED headlamp from a tree as a guide. Spent a lot of cold, wet, tired time kicking along shoreline before I learned that trick.

Check out Antilon Lake, No pressure and Monster Brown Trout, Rainbows and other fun fish to take on a Bug rod. You need a float tub or row boat to get on the fish but I had a couple 30 fish days on that little resevoir.