A small Sierra reservoir near Truckee with a real place in fly-fishing history — it was one of the first designated Wild Trout waters in California and has long run as barbless catch-and-release. It holds Lahontan cutthroat and rainbow-cutthroat hybrids in clear, weedy water that makes for technical, sight-fishing kind of days. You work it from a tube with fine tippet, chironomids, damsels and Callibaetis, to fish that have seen plenty of flies. A quiet, thoughtful little lake that rewards patience over enthusiasm.
Hot — dawn and dusk onlySustained heat. Fish deep, handle carefully, stop if a fish struggles.
The air has been hot long enough for the whole surface to be warm. There is no water sensor here, so we cannot tell you the depths are safe — only that they are the most likely place to find a few cool degrees if the water is deep enough. On the big reservoirs and Highland lochs the cool layer sits at four to ten metres, but late-summer oxygen losses can narrow it. On shallow club fisheries under five metres there is no refuge. Fish dawn and dusk only or rest the venue. Barbless hooks. Land it fast. Wet hands. No air shots. If a fish swims off slowly, rolls, or needs more than half a minute to revive, stop. That is the welfare signal — not the temperature.
- DepthDeep waters: a fast sinker to four to ten metres, but watch the colder deeps for poor oxygen late in the season. Shallow fisheries: no refuge. First light, last light, or come back another day.
- TimingTwo hours after dawn and the hour before dark. Nothing else. The real stop signal is the fish on release — if recovery is slow, stop.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
39% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
23°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for cutthroat trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
Late spring and autumn; calm-day sight fishing
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
4 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- summer conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Martis Lake · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Martis Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedMartis Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A small Sierra reservoir near Truckee with a real place in fly-fishing history — it was one of the first designated Wild Trout waters in California and has long run as barbless catch-and-release. It holds Lahontan cutthroat and rainbow-cutthroat hybrids in clear, weedy water that makes for technical, sight-fishing kind of days. You work it from a tube with fine tippet, chironomids, damsels and Callibaetis, to fish that have seen plenty of flies. A quiet, thoughtful little lake that rewards patience over enthusiasm.
- Lake
- Mixed
Martis Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Martis Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Martis Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Barbless catch-and-release, artificial-only Wild Trout water — verify current CDFW dates and gear rules
- Native Lahontan cutthroat: handle with care.
Martis Lake
Terrain map
A small Sierra reservoir near Truckee with a real place in fly-fishing history — it was one of the first designated Wild Trout waters in California and has long run as barbless catch-and-release.
Species
Hot — dawn and dusk onlySustained heat. Fish deep, handle carefully, stop if a fish struggles.
The air has been hot long enough for the whole surface to be warm. There is no water sensor here, so we cannot tell you the depths are safe — only that they are the most likely place to find a few cool degrees if the water is deep enough. On the big reservoirs and Highland lochs the cool layer sits at four to ten metres, but late-summer oxygen losses can narrow it. On shallow club fisheries under five metres there is no refuge. Fish dawn and dusk only or rest the venue. Barbless hooks. Land it fast. Wet hands. No air shots. If a fish swims off slowly, rolls, or needs more than half a minute to revive, stop. That is the welfare signal — not the temperature.
- DepthDeep waters: a fast sinker to four to ten metres, but watch the colder deeps for poor oxygen late in the season. Shallow fisheries: no refuge. First light, last light, or come back another day.
- TimingTwo hours after dawn and the hour before dark. Nothing else. The real stop signal is the fish on release — if recovery is slow, stop.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
39% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
23°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
Late spring and autumn; calm-day sight fishing
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- summer conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Barbless catch-and-release, artificial-only Wild Trout water — verify current CDFW dates and gear rules
- Native Lahontan cutthroat: handle with care.
Directions
About this water
A small Sierra reservoir near Truckee with a real place in fly-fishing history — it was one of the first designated Wild Trout waters in California and has long run as barbless catch-and-release. It holds Lahontan cutthroat and rainbow-cutthroat hybrids in clear, weedy water that makes for technical, sight-fishing kind of days. You work it from a tube with fine tippet, chironomids, damsels and Callibaetis, to fish that have seen plenty of flies. A quiet, thoughtful little lake that rewards patience over enthusiasm.
- Lake
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A small Sierra reservoir near Truckee with a real place in fly-fishing history — it was one of the first designated Wild Trout waters in California and has long run as barbless catch-and-release. It holds Lahontan cutthroat and rainbow-cutthroat hybrids in clear, weedy water that makes for technical, sight-fishing kind of days. You work it from a tube with fine tippet, chironomids, damsels and Callibaetis, to fish that have seen plenty of flies. A quiet, thoughtful little lake that rewards patience over enthusiasm.
Other water nearby · 3