Hatch is a pretty small lake and if it gets too much pressure the fish will be wiped out until the next state planting. If that isn't incentive enough to not exceed the five fish limit, than let it be known that a Game Warden lives on the lake. I'm guessing that he would have a special interest in this backyard lake. I fished it for three days straight and the fishing was good with smaller trout being the majority of the catch. Catch and release was the name of the game here, keeping the ones that receive a mortal wound or are especially larger than the rest quickly filled the limit. A bald eagle soared overhead one day. Fishing from a cartopper boat or float tube produces quick action, fishing from shore with power bait is sufficient. Be prepared to cast a ways from shore to get beyond the shallows. The lake is a winter fishery closing March 31. I'm looking forward to fishing thru the ice of a normal winter. The state has paid recent attention to the perch and killed most of them off, we did catch an eleven inch one that bit a wedding ring. With the recent rains the bank and the launch area was muddy, trailered boats wouldn't work well.

Semper Piscatologist

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