Merrill - 5/16

[buzzbaiter]

Damn its so low! Much lower than last fall. I'd say at least a foot lower since fall. Drew yellow lines on the trees to show the typical water level. Not much to report. Water felt chilly. Only thing really biting were rock bass. Caught about 30 of them. Also got 4 chain pickerel, a few sunnies and a couple small bass. Kind of a dink fest as nothing was over 9". Did see a few large lmbass on redds. I mean LARGE as in 22-24" large. I saw more kayaks then boats today. In fact in two hours there, only one boat came through the timber. Perhaps the low water has something to do with it?

Before and after MC, hit a couple of small lakes and got a couple of decent bass.

[Eskimo]

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Wow that is low.
M.C.R. is a tough reservoir to fish and that water stays really cold until mid-summer. Even in the early summer, when I catch a fish there, it feels like a cold beer in my hand because the water is so cold.

One issue I have with MCR is their early curfew time. The bass really start to come alive as the sun sets, and by then you have to leave the reservoir. If you make the water company workers wait for you to close the gate they get really pissed. If you push it, I'm sure they will lock you in for the night and ticket you for trespassing.


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[goodfishin]

I hit MCR today from shore today. Boy, is it low indeed. I only started fishing there last year but there's one spot I had to wade out through waist-deep water to get to some rocks to stand on. They're high and dry now. So, it's a solid 3-4' lower than last fall.

Fishing was slow but I managed to get into 3 decent bass. One was this not-too-shabby SMB. Picture doesn't do it justice because I had to angle down to get him in frame. Gave me a run for my money on the 4-lb test trout rod I had in the car.

Saw a guy catch a nice rainbow on a spinner. Other than that, pretty slow day.

Hey, if you ever want to pick up a shorebird for some company, lemme know. I'm always jealous of you boat guys.