Big Mac

[Gary B]

Anyone heard if Big Mac will fill enough to put water in Martin Bay
so we can take advantage of those Post Spawners that move into the warmer water looking for some chow?
Thanks
Gary B

[EricCO]

You think they will move all the way down to sand point after spawn instead?

I don't even pretend to assume that I know anything about the water rights on the Platte and whether Big Mac will fill any more.

[guest]

The current lake elevation as of March 24 is 3225.7 feet above sea level. The end of the boat ramp in MArtin's Cove is 3234. So the water level is still 10 feet below the ramp if that helps. The lake seems to be rising about 1 foot every two weeks at its current rate. I don't know how much water Big MAc will get this spring as all up stream reservoirs are way below normal(Seminoe 20% full, PAthfinder 35%, Glendo 50% and Guernsey 30%). Hope this help a little bit.

[brad]

They added extensions on over the winter and the Martins Cove boat ramp is currently usable.

[another ramp]

Diver's bay is also open.

It is on Burma road at the south end of the dam.

It is back in a cove which offers more protection if the wind blows.

Good luck, The spawn is usually later there than any other place in the state.

[eye4aneye]

If you want to fish sand point, you don't need a boat or a fishing pole. A good 4WD pickup and a shovel are required though.

[Bobc]

I left Big Mac in 1956 and moved to Mn. Sorry to hear about the shortage of water. We used to catch nice walleyes where the rocks ended near Martin Bay. We fished from shore as boats were not a thing then.April 1st trout season opened. We fished trout wh.ere the actual damm ended and along the bays just before the damm. In Martin Bay there used to be a cement abutment that you could drive up to. This was also a good trout spot. Many trout werein the 5to10lb range. All fishing was done using fly rods as spinning tackle was just comming of age. When the lake is normal do these trout come up to the damm to spawn?Many a fond memory of this great lake.Now living in Mn. I still fish walleyes a lot but Muskies have me hooked.

BC

[eye4eyes]

I don't know. I hope that helps, bro. John B.

[eye4eyes]

Where did fishhead go? John B.

[eyewinder]

Big Mac's trout are merely a fond memory. For numerous reasons, they are no longer in the lake in fishable numbers. Game & Parks stocked them again a few years ago, but have discontinued efforts, I believe.

I believe, too, that a few of the feeder streams in the North Platte drainage above McConaughy still support some trout, but there is no longer a spawning run from Big Mac into the Platte and its feeders that used to help support the lake's trout population.