Thanks to all the folks that showed up for the campground clean up on 5/12. Campers occupied every campsite because of the great weather but we still managed a quick two hour pick-up.

Merrill angling has picked up lately. Water is down about 5 feet in the last three weeks. After several trips in April and May with only a few fish each trip I went up yesterday mid morning. It was a drizzly day but warm. There was a big hatch and feeding frenzy in the middle of the lake. I took 13 fish from 11"to 17" in 2 hours....missed a couple dozen other strikes....two strikes broke off my fly....thank you F&W triploids. I got about 1/2 cutts, 1/2 trips with one medium sized brown. Water temp was 57'. Eagle made two failed attempts at my fish....!

Great report, thanks! The water temp sounds right about perfect.

Two last trips to Merrill 5/24 and 5/27 produced 18 and 15 fish in under three hours for me.....best I have done there in a while. The hatch is short but sweet. The cutts seem bigger and healthier this year. Water temp 58'. Funny though, everyone else fishing NOT where I am fishing ? I guess maybe putting in 45 yrs there is finally paying off.

Wow, your good. I had 2 fish in four hours Saturday afternoon. I'm definitely not fishing where your fishing.

45 years? Now that is experience. I fised it on the 28th caught 4. First time there. I am learning that still water can be be lots of fun. Being from Or however the cost is not cheap. I found that time of day and location has a lot to do with success. If you have any tips it would be appreciated. I noticed about 8:00pm the placed picked up a bit. Nice place but so large.

This Wednesday was just a bit slower at Merrill....the hatch starting about 9 am and ending about 11:30. Cloudy and cool. I managed 12 fish and my buddy 6 including some bigger ones this trip. One big holdover triploid was about 22" and as he came near the net spooked and dove under the boat. I shoved my 3 wt Scott deep into the water but he bolted from starboard stern to the bow port side and broke me off. Another went deep for a minute or so and then for some reason rocketed 4 feet straight into the air? He measured 19". Eagle came chase but had no luck taking our fish this time. Last Saturday he got a couple though. Only one other boat on lake. Can't beat this little lake just 40 minutes from my home.

This morning I got skunked at Merrill....maybe too much sun, or too much wind, there were no bugs, no rises, got one tug, but zero fish?

Any one fished Merrill in the last week? Reports?

Would be interested in the levels. Any room to walk the shore and let a kiddo kick around or is it still up into the bushes and trees?

Water is still high....no shoreline exposed yet. High water mark is just below signs at boat launch. 11 fish made it to my net this morning. More browns than normal and all they wanted were green buggers. Two eagles but they didn't get any of my fish No one in campground and no one else on lake till I left at noon.

Thanks.



Nothing like your own private mountain lake. Been itching for some still water actually. Might hit it soon for half a day.

I just have to mention that I read an account from another board that someone saw what he described as a five foot long Sturgon in Lake Merrill.

That was a creditable sighting of that sturgeon. I know Mark and he is a great fly fisherman and a reliable guy. Our fly fishing club contacted a WDFW fish biologist and he said folks often dump fish in lakes that normally don't support such species...and sturgeon can live a long tim out of water. We were concerned that the fish might root around on the bottom and disturb the hex nymphs. They don't normally feed on fish. Pretty weird thing for sure.

Any size to your Merrill fish? Last reports I've seen have been small fish. I usually pass it and head up to Mt. St. Helens but wouldn't mind the shorter drive if the fish were decent.

Some reports of short lived HEX hatches coming in.......anyone up there lately?