Mike, just to clarify matters regarding Martha Lake... I grew up on Martha Lake in the Mill Creek area (Alderwood Mall). This lake has always been open only during "fishing season", i.e. opening day until October. The State plants fish here every year. It was treated with Rototone about 10 years ago due to the catfish and bass that started to take over the trout habitat. The lake fishes best along the east shore due to the plant growth from the sun. The sun doesn't shine as long along the west shore and I've always been hard pressed to catch any fish along there. I've scuba dived the lake and it's about 48' to 50' deep at the deepest part. Lots of crayfish in the lake and I've always done well later in the season trolling a fly with spinner gear line.

There is also a Martha Lake in the Warm Beach area, i.e. west of Smokey Point. I've always referred to it as Little Lake Martha to avoid confusion as it's smaller that the one by Mill Creek. This lake is open year round however the State does not have plants to stock it this year due to budget cut-backs. I fished it last year and caught a few trout, perch and crappie.

(received later that day:

Mike, I guess I should have looked past the WA Fish & Wildlife stocking plans... I just found out that they did stock Little Lake Martha with trout this year, despite their plans not to...

Snohomish - Martha Lake (AM) Goldendale stock. Puyallup 3.87 04/19/1999 2,800 Rainbow

Snohomish - Martha Lake (AM) Spokane stock. Arlington 4.2 04/20/1999 3,696 Rainbow

Snohomish - Martha Lake (WB) Goldendale stock. Arlington 3.1 04/20/1999 2,015 Rainbow ).

The two lakes in the same county with the same name have always accounted for some confusion. There are other Martha Lakes in Washington also. Neither lake allows outboard motors.

Clarification:

Alert reader Ron W pointed out to me that there is also a Martha Lake in Grant which I also posted the same reports to. The said reports have been deleted from this county as I am reasonably sure that they are indeed Grant County reports. I'm not sure how I double posted them but it does point to the need to please include the county when you send me a report. It makes it much easier for me to update the page and to prevent mix-ups from happening. Thanks and sorry for the confusion.

Mike

---