(07-22-2020, 04:04 PM)Joe_Dizzy Wrote:(07-21-2020, 04:24 PM)fishalot13 Wrote: In places like mirror lake the people want to catch fish so they get stock ers. Some lakes that are just a bit off the highway have time to grow a little bigger. I do feel lucky to have places to fish and such a verity!
Agreed Mirror Lake is a slime rocket factory, which doesn't really explain the addition of Brook Trout fingerlings. Just surprised at the poor quality of the fish... can't imagine how many 6-7 inch rainbows are needed for a family fish fry. Beautiful place to fish, but as a fisherman, I will not be returning.
Trial Lake and Washington Lake are interesting targets for me... they're basically right next door to each other, similar size, and similar species distribution. Would be interesting to see a slot limit (or dare I say, C&R regulation) imposed on one of these lakes... stocking via fingerlings only - just like the lakes back in the bush. Both lakes large enough to absorb the percentage of poaching likely to occur as well.
Dare to dream
Mirror Lake does have some very large rainbow trout. They are the ones eating the stockers. You aren’t going to catch those with small flies or leeches. Try very early or late season on a cloudy evening. Throw something that mimics the 6-10 inch trout they feed on. C and R is going to results in very high mortality with those fishing worms. There are something like 600 lakes in the Unitas. The very few roadside ones are likely to remain catch and release. The roadside ones aren’t all super productive any ways. I recall as Lost Lake was starting to ice out 17 years ago, my 5 yo son caught his first fish without any help from anyone. It was a 19 inch rainbow. The skinny thing probably didn’t weigh more than a pound. We caught many roughly 6-8 inch rookies I recall. It’s unlikely to become a trophy lake no matter what you do with it.
Finding a lake with descent fish takes some work and may change year to year. Don’t expect DWR to line up big fish for you at drive up spots in the Unitas. You can follow stocking reports and see where they occasionally dump old brood stock if that’s what you’re interested in. I much prefer catching wild trout even if it isn’t always convenient. I actually enjoy the solitude that usually comes with the pursuit. I see the roadside lakes mostly for kids, when you just don’t have the time to hike some or the snow is still too deep to make hiking practically.