? ? ? about Merrill Lake

[FOSH]

I've visited Merrill Lake several times this summer. This is the first year I've fished it and I have a number of questions. None of my buddies know anything about it (buncha bait-throwing hooligans, anyway! :smile:) and I haven't found anyone locally who can answer my questions. (There's a severe shortage of places fly guys gather--Maybe I just hang out in the wrong places. :blush:)
Anyway, I'm hoping :pray: someone here can help!
1) Any methods successful during the middle of the day?
2) I've noticed a wide variance in the strength of the Hex hatch and the fish's response to it. Will this continue or does it grow more consistent through the summer?
3) Is there natural reproduction at Merrill? Is the lake supplemented with hatchery trout? (My last rainbow from there looked a lot like he came out of a stock truck 'cept he was bigger. . . and stronger.)
4) I've heard rumors of good-sized browns there. Any truth to 'em? All my fish have been 'bows and cutts. About 50-50.
I appreciate your attempts to help--and if anyone can suggest a different bar to hang out in, I'd appreciate that too! :grin:

[Steelie Mike]

I fish Merrill a couple times a year when I want to wet a line in the evening. However I have had success in the afternoon in the past fishing small caddis like patterns on the bank. There are a lot of alder flies that will be brushed against the shorline that the fish will feed on. Alder flies do not float well so do not worry about whether it is floating high or not. Soft hackle patterns work great for these guys as well. At time you might even find a cali hatch or fish feeding on ants and termites. The fish really like termites.

There is natural reproduction in the lake, but WDFW also supplements it with fry every so often. This was recently pointed out to me on another board. You will find cutts, bows and yes browns in the lake. A good size brown is 15 inches and a great one 20 inches. I have fished up there over the last five years and I have caught only two in the 20inch class. I am sure there are a few bigger out there, but I have not been lucky enough to see them.

In regards to the Hex hatch, you should see it until Sept, but I think the peak of the hatch is this time of year. Again I only fish the hatch a couple times a year and am not an expert on it.

I have had luck with small green leech patterns and JJ Specials when I strip streamers. There are crayfish in the lake and you should have a better chance at a brown if you put that sirloin in front of them. Tighlines!

[stoneflyguy]

I fish the lake from early spring to late fall and I don't claim to be an expert on it but this time of year is very hard to catch fish during the day because of the hex hatch. I have caught several big browns and few small ones, maybe just lucky. The most common fly I use is a Adams Humpy or Adams Royal Wulff but in the spring you can catch plenty of fish ion a black ant or termite. There are times when you can use about anything and catch fish. During the day when the hex hatch is occuring try using a sinking leader or sinking line with a olive wooly bugger. About 2 hours before the hex hatch turns on try a hex nymph and then go to a cripple when the hex occurs. I have found that I cath more fish on a cripple hex then a drake because the fish just seem to bat around the drake. I also use a cryne fly larva or nymph in some of the coves . The browns seem to hit better during the evening but I have causght some in the spring when the water is in the alders. I have found that if you pump a stomach of a trout it can tell a great story. I have spent countless hours on the lake and it is one of my favorite lakes around. Another trick is to fish the slicks off some of the points when it's windy and almost any bead head nymph will catch you fish. If you fish the lake enough you will find that there are some spots that only yield smaller fish. The north end of the lake is the best spot for the hex and can last from 15 minutes to an hour and a half.I know alot of anglers who have left the lake frustrated but if you spend enough time you will figure out the patterns. Maybe I'll see ya there sometime. Oh, and watch out for the eagles, they love to steal your fish.

[stoneflyguy]

I fish the lake from early spring to late fall and I don't claim to be an expert on it but this time of year is very hard to catch fish during the day because of the hex hatch. I have caught several big browns and few small ones, maybe just lucky. The most common fly I use is a Adams Humpy or Adams Royal Wulff but in the spring you can catch plenty of fish ion a black ant or termite. There are times when you can use about anything and catch fish. During the day when the hex hatch is occuring try using a sinking leader or sinking line with a olive wooly bugger. About 2 hours before the hex hatch turns on try a hex nymph and then go to a cripple when the hex occurs. I have found that I cath more fish on a cripple hex then a drake because the fish just seem to bat around the drake. I also use a cryne fly larva or nymph in some of the coves . The browns seem to hit better during the evening but I have causght some in the spring when the water is in the alders. I have found that if you pump a stomach of a trout it can tell a great story. I have spent countless

[MarlinMark]

TTT...I am a Merrill Lake virgin!

Mark

[FOSH]

Mark--We can fix that any day you can break free! :grin:
Stoneflyguy (et al.)--Thanks. All information will be applied! :bowdown:

[Nick6547]

I have caught fish during the day at Merril by going deep with a full sinker and a hex nymph pattern (basically a yellowish grey bugger). Anchor and fish it right on the bottom in the deepest place you can find. It's not fast and furious, but you can get a few fish.

I've also caught fish on alder fly patterns in the bushes when it's been windy and cloudy.

Nick.