Lake Tarleton Questions

[FSH4FN]

I'm considering making the drive up to this lake and giving it a try. I've never fished there or really anywhere close to there but I'm looking a nice place to target trout. Anybody familiar with Tarleton, good/bad, not recommended?

Also, question I had was whether Tarleton falls under the Lake Trout/Salmon guidelines of 2 lines per person. I was on the F&G website and didn't seem to see it listed but I realize it is a LT lake. I just want to be within the law when fishing it.

Thanks!

[celtbass]

6 lines at Tarleton and some nice trout as well...   but you could spend days on it and not catch a single Laker, I average about one laker for every 3-4 trips... but they are usually good size

[FSH4FN]

6 lines... awesome!

It'd be nice to to catch lakers but in general just want to target some trout. Thought it'd be a cool place to try. It certainly looks like a trout lake from the images online.

[celtbass]

If you aren't going to target Lakers you can stay pretty close to the launch cove where water moves in and do pretty well.  There will be an old timer in a pop up camper Shack right of the launch <super nice guy>, I think his name is Neily... introduce yourself and ask to see some of the pictures he has on the wall... 

[FSH4FN]

If you aren't going to target Lakers you can stay pretty close to the launch cove where water moves in and do pretty well.  There will be an old timer in a pop up camper Shack right of the launch <super nice guy>, I think his name is Neily... introduce yourself and ask to see some of the pictures he has on the wall...   

LOL HAHA. I will be sure to do that. I'm always intrigued by old timer stories and especially pictures to back it up! I'll give that cove a try then.

Thanks for tips!

[MFDIRT13]

It's a hard place to get to know. Had some slow days there but the chance to get a big laker is on my mind. Give it a try it. It is a quiet and nice lake.

[dennisg34]

Only fished it once and that was this season. Lots of flags in a couple hours right off boat launch, one brown landed.

[Hottuna5150]

Tarelton is a good brown lake and a relatively slow laker lake. That said, it produces some quality fish, you just might have to fish hard several days to hook up.

[dbickom]

Never fished with smelt.  Do you hook them thru the back or mouth?

[Hottuna5150]

That usually depends on the size of the smelt I'm fishing with. If I only have small ones I'll hook through the upper jaw (they seem to stay more lively) and if I have some med/large smelt I hook em in the back.
Cheers

[dbickom]

Thank you for the information.

[dennisg34]

Never fished with smelt.  Do you hook them thru the back or mouth?

I always hook my bait right behind dorsal fin. Fish eat tail end first most of the time, better hook-set

[WolfeFish]

It's been several years for me but did catch some small rainbows on the northeast side of the lake. Was there to get lakers so had a couple sets out in that deeper section. No lakers caught but rainbows grabbing salmon eggs before they hit bottom was pretty cool.

[BrookieSlayer99]

It's been several years for me but did catch some small rainbows on the northeast side of the lake. Was there to get lakers so had a couple sets out in that deeper section. No lakers caught but rainbows grabbing salmon eggs before they hit bottom was pretty cool.

I'm surprised the rainbows don't get good sized in there because I heard that it has pretty good smelt.

[jethro]

If the weather is nasty, be careful of the parking! It's not plowed or maintained in winter and can be somewhat hairy.

[SALMONEMIA]

If the weather is nasty, be careful of the parking! It's not plowed or maintained in winter and can be somewhat hairy.

100% true, its a far drive to go to find it not plowed. Don't ask how I know.

[FSH4FN]

You guys are awesome! Woke up this morning and saw all of the great replies. Thank you for responding all of you that have and offered advice and opinions. Always looking to try out some new places and this one has been on my mind for some time. If I do get up there in the next few weeks I'll be sure to post some pictures (if they're worthy) 

[meatandmetal]

100% true, its a far drive to go to find it not plowed. Don't ask how I know.

If the weather is nasty, be careful of the parking! It's not plowed or maintained in winter and can be somewhat hairy.

That is why my group calls it "Terrible Tarleton". 

[PoolGuy]

That is why my group calls it "Terrible Tarleton". 

I'll second that !!! 

[meatandmetal]

I'll second that !!!

Have you got rid of that chill that you caught up there last year or do you still have it?

[Coffin Dodger]

I always hook my bait right behind dorsal fin. Fish eat tail end first most of the time, better hook-set

Interesting. 
Most of the fish I catch have the shiner's tail sticking out of their mouth....

PoolGuy, does the wind blow up there? 

[Coffin Dodger]

Have you got rid of that chill that you caught up there last year or do you still have it?

You just beat me, Denny. 

[meatandmetal]

Interesting. 
Most of the fish I catch have the shiner's tail sticking out of their mouth....

 

 
PoolGuy, does the wind blow up there? 

Fish will take other fish head first. Doing it this way folds the spines down as it is digested. Tail first would cause the spines to grab on the way down.


 I don't think it ever stops.

[JIGGIN-]

I always put the hook as close the the head of a shiner / smelt. Trout (in my experience) always take the bait head first. MnM is right, it would get stuck in the trouts throat or cause problems if taken tail first. Head first is easier for them to get it down.

[Coffin Dodger]

I always put the hook as close the the head of a shiner / smelt. Trout (in my experience) always take the bait head first. MnM is right, it would get stuck in the trouts throat or cause problems if taken tail first. Head first is easier for them to get it down.

With the exception of blues. 
They must slice and dice after they make that horseshoe incision.   

[PoolGuy]

Have you got rid of that chill that you caught up there last year or do you still have it?

It's gone CD, I'm ready to give it another shot...

[FSH4FN]

In my experience I usually hook around the dorsal area. I'm always experimenting though!