Today is the first day of March, yes, but it is also known as the March 1 Opener, meaning several lakes will open to fishing today.

Last year my wife, Garnet, and I were planning to take the travel trailer to Martha Lake and camp for a few days, but the temperature dropped to 8 degrees. Our first planned camping of the trip was cancelled.

Weather is often the deciding factor when anglers consider heading to local waters. Such is the situation tomorrow. The forecast has the temperature at 27 degrees at 6 a.m., 40 degrees at noon, 45 at 3 p.m. and 38 at 6.

Anglers are a hearty group and some can be found fishing when ice needs to be removed from the eyes of the rod.

However there are other anglers and family members who will not want to venture forth into such weather.

This year, if the temperature doesn't discourage the anglers, the wind might, which is predicted to blow at 18 miles per hour. I have been known to chip ice from the rod and stand in the rain to fish, but fishing in a wind, anything over 5 mph has no appeal to me.

Still Garnet and I will head to Martha to watch the excitement of anglers catching fish. By the way, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday weather seems to be more suitable for a family angling outing.

What can anglers expect when traveling to area waters this week? Chad Jackson, area fish biologist for Grant and Adams counties has prepared a forecast of his own, which is provided here to increase your angling pleasure.

Martha and Upper Caliche

Martha and Upper Caliche Lakes were rehabilitated in 2010 and planted with rainbow trout fry in 2011.  Both lakes also received a small, less than 3,000, supplemental catchable trout plant last fall.

I expect these lakes to fish well on the opener. Trout range in size from 11 to 13 inches with maybe a few larger fish present. Anglers should expect to catch three or more trout each on the opener.

Quincy and Burke

Quincy and Burke Lakes should fish very well on the opener and are probably an angler's best bets on the opener. Shore anglers should focus their efforts more on the eastern half of each lake as the west side is pretty shallow and typically not as productive.

Both lakes were stocked with approximately 11,000 catchable trout, in the 11- to 13-inch range, last September.  These fish should be slightly larger by opening day.

Additionally, previous catchable trout plants should provide for some carryover opportunity to catch fish up to and perhaps exceeding 20 inches. Also, the Quincy Valley Tourism Bureau is hosting a fishing derby on Burke Lake with several chances to win cash and other prizes.

Lenice and Nunnally

Lenice and Nunnally Lakes should fish well again this year for rainbow trout mostly 12 to 14 inches as well as some fish up to and over 20 inches.

Typically, Lenice Lake fishes better than Nunnally Lake and thus receives most of the pressure.

However, anglers who "crack the code" on Nunnally Lake and find where the trout are located can expect equally successful outings as Lenice, but have less anglers to compete with.

Lake Lenore

Lake Lenore typically fishes better in October and November than in March.  However, anglers looking to catch something other than rainbow trout should head to Lake Lenore for Lahontan cutthroat trout.

Lahontans range anywhere in size from 16 to pushing 30 inches in length.  However, catch rates are typically slower during this time of year ranging from as low as a couple fish per angler to 10.

 Most anglers tend to fish the far north end of the lake in March. Also, anglers fishing from a float tube or equivalent tend to be more successful than shoreline anglers.

Dusty

Dusty Lake typically fishes a little slow on the opener and as a result has low effort.

But, anglers who hike down to this lake on the opener should expect to catch rainbow, tiger and brown trout from 12 inches to over 20 inches. Anglers should plan on packing a float tube into this lake as there is very few good shore fishing areas. Also, if anglers elect not to fish this lake on the opener, consider fishing it in late March and April.

Other lakes

Anglers wanting to get some exercise and away from the crowds are encouraged to fish the Quincy walk-in lakes. 

These lakes located on the Quincy Wildlife Area include Crystal, Cup, Upper and Lower Spring, and Cliff lakes.  Anglers should fish all five lakes during their outing. Rainbow trout up to the middle 20-inch range can be caught in these lakes. 

The next concern is ice on the lakes. Here is the answer from Jackson:

Lake Lenore: 75 to 80 percent open, patches of ice seen over entire lake, but mostly located in the northern half, lake is fishable.

Quincy Lake: 99 percent ice free with only small patches of ice along the shoreline, lake is fishable.

Burke Lake: 80 to 85 percent ice free with ice located at the east end of the lake, ice will probably be mostly gone by opening day, lake is fishable

Dusty Lake: 100 percent ice free and fishable;

Quincy Walk-In Lakes: All of the Quincy Walk-In lakes, Crystal, Upper and Lower Spring, Cup, and Cliff, are ice free and fishable

Martha Lake: 95 to 99 percent ice free with a small patch located in the center of the lake,  is fishable.

Upper Caliche: 100 percent ice free, lake is fishable; Lenice Lake: 100 percent ice free, lake is fishable; Nunnally Lake: 100 percent ice free, lake is fishable.