Author Topic: How to determine good lake venues (Read 262 times)

Daniel Podobed · « **on:** February 02, 2012, 11:08:17 PM »

Hello,

I'm looking to host a lake venue in my area, but I have no experience with lake fishing for trout with a fly rod. What should I look for in a venue, other than knowing it contains trout?

What necessitities exist uniquely with a lake venue?

I live in an area with lakes and reservoirs that hold trophy trout. Other than that, I am limited with experience. I appreciate all comments and suggestions.

Loren Williams · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2012, 11:43:15 AM »

Great question!

I suggest looking for a lake with a boat launch that is in the 50-100 acre size (more toward 100) unless you plan to provide outboard motors. Bigger lakes will tend to kill electric batteries and rowing skills can become a competitive factor. Obviously it needs to contain trout. I'd avoid lakes that have pleasure boating so HP restrictions are nice. Boat rentals are even better as it removes the need to find a bunch of boat that will drift the same. Lake should not be so large that winds will make it unsafe.

Comp should be held when the trout are accessible. If warm summer temps drive the fish below the thermocline and into limited areas that are unrealistic then it's not going to be a fun competition.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2012, 11:51:00 AM »

Loren is spot on. The one problem I have with all the lakes I know of is the availability of boats. If you have a trout lake with 4 or more boats that you can get on the water you have a venue. My problem is getting boats. If I had 4 boats I would put on one Loch Style competition a weekend.

Daniel Podobed · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:13:57 PM »

Thanks Loren and Mark.

The one venue is much larger than 100 acres, it is 650 acres, trolling motor only, and has a tower with a wind advisory system that notifies boaters if a wind speed of 25 mph exists for more than 5 seconds.

It does not have boats for rent unfortunately. I have been out on this reservoir many times in a boat and kayak fishing for bass, not trout. It has a max depth of 235 feet.

the other venue is 235 acres. I will contact them monday to see if they have boats for rent.

all of them have docks available, and both have some massive, untapped trout populations. both also do not let use of jet ski's, party boats, etc. fishing or sailing/kayaking only.

Daniel Podobed · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2012, 07:25:55 PM »

I looked up the second venue, and they do have boat rentals. I will have to call monday for more information though. If they are reasonable, it would be great to have a comp there, even a mini.

That place birthed the nj record trout if i'm not mistaken.

Chris Puchniak · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2012, 07:39:09 PM »

Some things I'd consider (and Loren has touched on some of this well enough) are:

1. Not too busy of a lake. If you set up for a lake doing loch style, have 10 + boats, BUT there are already a fair number of boats on the lake anchored or trolling (non-competitors), unless it is a large lake it is tough for drogue-drifting boats to fit it. We're not as maneuverable as the others when drifting (at the mercy of the wind, have to pull in the drogue any time you move, etc...), and most other anglers have no idea (at least in North America) that we're drifting with a drogue and moving along - so when you have a number of non-competition anglers in boats as well, you can easily have them not realize what you are doing, and they can regularly interrupt drifts by setting up anchor 200 feet in front of you on your drift... not their fault really because they are abiding by common ethics of maintaining distance, but when the lake is covered with anchored boats constantly moving and stopping, it can be tough for loch-style anglers to get any drifts going. So it's ideal to have a lake where most anglers are fishing the same style.

2. Find a spot that can supply boats so you can have everyone in the same size of boat, with the same size engine. That way no one has an advantage of higher hp engines, more space in their boat, better drift speeds, etc... That being said, I've been in events where every boat is different (from 16-foot jet boats to 12-foot jon boats to 14' car toppers...), and it still surprisingly works out fine. It's just not ideal. But it will still work. If people have different HP engines, and you NEED engines, you have to establish some type of speed rule. Otherwise you got guys in 40 HP jet boats racing ahead of guys in 10 hp motors. It may help to keep boat owners WITH their own boats (to keep from people damaging someone else's boat - it happens!), but make sure you rotate the other anglers so not everyone is stuck in a small boat all the time.

3. Don't use a lake fully exposed to wind. We've seen a couple of events delayed due to wind, and sometimes it's inevitable, but pick a lake ideally that is sheltered a bit more - or at least has sheltered bays readily accessible.

4. Have a good launch and a beach where all boats can be set and staged on shore/dock so it''s not a disorganized crash event trying to get out. Give everyone 15 minutes to get onto the water in advance. This will avoid confusuion (and narrow the gap between boats with high hp engines and low hp engines).

5. Pick a lake that has fish evenly distributed. There is no fun in doing it on a lake where it is 600 acres in size, and all the fish are in one stinking bay, with 20 anglers drifting over themselves trying to fish one pod of fish.

6. You also don't want a lake where the winner only catches 2 fish (most likely)... there is too much of a luck factor involved when lakes are that tough. You want a lake where everyone has a good chance to find fish, not just the one lucky bloke who found the only two feeding fish on the bloody water. You want a lake that will test the skill of finding fish, hooking fish, and landing fish. Minimize that luck factor.

7. If the lake has a stocking program, schedule the event for at least 2 weeks after any stocking - that way you get fish more acclimitized and better able to survive catch and release. They will also be feeding more regularly. And, they will be more dispersed throughout the lake, as opposed to being jammed into the one corner they were stocked in.

Daniel Podobed · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2012, 09:23:29 PM »

Chris,

thank you for adding onto this discussion, it is much appreciated. I have little interest in hosting an event where people are spending time and money to get there, only to have it be a disaster. I'll be checking on these venues in the spring and I'll have a fly rod in hand along with a few friends. I know they stock both venues, very good point about them becoming acclimated for survival.