My former office was just a block away from Martha Lake. Last year I took
an hour and a half lunch break and fished from one of the then-new docks,
sharing the hardwood with 2 bait guys. One of the bait guys caught 2 fish,
losing 2 others, and the other guy caught none. I caught 8 rainbow, the
11-13" size, and missed that many more. The bait guys appeared to be pretty
chagrined to have some fly fishing dude, wearing shiny leather shoes, white
shirt and a tie, showing up to out-fish them.
I returned once last week and once the week previous, hoping to repeat last
year's performance. Not to be. The docks are now inhabited what appears
to be a permanent community of Hatfield's and McCoy's, complete with the
neon green and the orange push-button Wal-Mart Zebco rod and reel combos,
BBQ's, coolers, and lounge chairs. The families have set up occupancy
about halfway down the dock to the very end, leaving the available dock area
closest to shore.
The first week, one couple caught a number of fish, with the other 3
families catching none. I didn't catch any, as well. Last week, with the
same dock area allotment program, I caught 2 small 10" micro planter
rainbows. A couple of the families caught a few fish; but no fish of any
size.
If you are up in that area, and have an hour or two to kill, you might want
to consider keeping your rod and a few nymphs in your vehicle, and sneaking
over to the lake during lunch. As many of the planter fish are taken, and
the excitement of opening day wanes, the docks should open and make room for
fly fishers. It's a great way to spend lunch!
RIchard
