Rock Lake Clarity?

[basaltbone]

Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of water clarity at Rock Lake right now? It's a drive from down here in Richland, and I wonder if all this precip might have thrown it off? I know good fishing can also be had when it goes chocolate.

Haven't posted on WA Lakes for a while; good to be back and to read some posts.

[Amx]

A couple people have died on that lake recently, so take care.

[basaltbone]

I know. My heart goes out to their families and my admiration goes out to the guys who saved those young men.

I have a couple/few hundred days logged on Rock in my life, so I am all too familiar with the dangers the lake presents in all seasons. Thanks for the heads up though..

In defense of Rock's reputation and for the sake of keeping it real, WA Lakes forum readers who aren't so familiar with the lake should know that it is a vibrant and challenging fishery and that no boogeyman or lake monster will get you. Failure to observe the weather, to beware underwater hazards, and to observe the rules of safe boating are what get people in trouble on Rock.

I know there are plenty of Rock devotees and some experts on here who probably reminded the forum of this already.

[Anglinarcher]

About 2' clarity, water rising, green color due to turnover and plankton.

You are quite correct, Rock is dangerous, but not so dangerous that following good boating practices will not work.

In short, bad weather and small overloaded boats kill, not the lake. Lack of attention to depth and too much speed in waters you don't know kill, not the lake.

Unlike most lakes, you cannot just beach your boat and walk out, and there are not a lot of places to hide from the wind. Rock takes attention to safety detail, but it is indeed a great fishery.

[YellowBear]

It has been sometime since I have fished Rock.
The fish were at that time full of tape worms.
Anyone seeing any in the fish these days?

[Anglinarcher]

I am not sure we are talking about the same Rock Lake.

I have never seen parasites in Rock Lake in Whitman County.

[YellowBear]

Same lake archer.
Saw them mostly in the Largemouth and Crappie.

[Anglinarcher]

Same lake archer.
Saw them mostly in the Largemouth and Crappie.

I have never seen any outward signs of parasites in the fish in Rock, but I have only fished it since 2000.

I don't, or at least have not yet, kept any of the crappie or bass from Rock, so I cannot respond to what they have inside. I have never seen any signs of parasites in the trout.

How long ago did you see tape worms in the fish? How did you identify them as tape worms?

[Anglinarcher]

Clarity update as of 4/7/12.

Muddy, really muddy. The entire lake has less then 12" of visibility, even with orange or white lures. Thstreamsms going in and out look more like rivers.

The lake has suffered a major storm recently. A beach that I fish near actually has gravel piled up 18 inches from the waveIncomingming water has left a huge amount debris floating near the upper end.

The water temperature was 38 degrees in the morning, warming to 41 degrees in the afternoon.

[YellowBear]

I first saw them back in the early 80s.
I was fishing with a friend of mine and we had been doing very well on Largemouth.
We were keeping the 12 to 15 inch fish in the livewell.
At the end of the day we noticed the fish were dead and the water in the livewell looked like milk.
After closer inspection we discoverd the worms, long thin and flat.
Had to replace the livewell pump.

[Anglinarcher]

I have been told that the water quality has improved substantially from then. I will keep a couple bass and crappie later this year to confirm.