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First time to Potholes this year! Road Closure alert

1521 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Matt Paluch
I had my first Stillwater trip of the year yesterday to a fly only lake in the Potholes. I was headed to another destination, but the road from the South was closed just past Herman lake so I ended up at Quail. The day was great, but fishing was fairly slow. I haven't had great days ever at Quail, I went 7 for 7 and felt that was pretty good for a day with no hatches. I caught one fish by noon, then walked back the car to get batteries for my fishin' buddy. On the way I saw my hint of things to come, about 10 fish crusin' in the shallow water. When I got back with the batteries, I changed to a fly with no bead and worked the shallows for 6 more fish, all between 16 and 18". They wanted a fly (size 12 peacock carey, my boatman for the day) on the drop or still in the water. All my hits were when the fly was stopped and most in less than 3 feet of water. I dropped my phone in the water when getting out so no pictures :(. Hopefully the rice will work it's magic.

I know nothing about the roads form the North. If anyone knows more about the closure please chime in!
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I had my first Stillwater trip of the year yesterday to a fly only lake in the Potholes. I was headed to another destination, but the road from the South was closed just past Herman lake so I ended up at Quail. The day was great, but fishing was fairly slow. I haven't had great days ever at Quail, I went 7 for 7 and felt that was pretty good for a day with no hatches. I caught one fish by noon, then walked back the car to get batteries for my fishin' buddy. On the way I saw my hint of things to come, about 10 fish crusin' in the shallow water. When I got back with the batteries, I changed to a fly with no bead and worked the shallows for 6 more fish, all between 16 and 18". They wanted a fly (size 12 peacock carey, my boatman for the day) on the drop or still in the water. All my hits were when the fly was stopped and most in less than 3 feet of water. I dropped my phone in the water when getting out so no pictures :(. Hopefully the rice will work it's magic.

I know nothing about the roads form the North. If anyone knows more about the closure please chime in!
I was the guy in the green pontoon that day. Did you get any fish in the spot we were discussing?

There are closures on both of the main gravel roads that travel north-south through the seeps. A lot of cars are driving through the closure near Quail. The other closure is at the Upper Goose lake turnoff if you're driving up from the south. Not sure currently where the northern closure begins if you're coming out of the north.
I'd venture the road is closed at the Columbia Wildlife Refuge boundry. Was that the case?
I was there a couple weeks ago when it was all still frozen. The road is closed just past the Hermann/Quail parking lot. There is a sink hole in the road. From the north you can make it to the same place, and after making it all the way down there, I had no desire to go north again so I drove around the sinkhole area without any issues. The roads were still partially snow covered when I was there.
Let's just say it's like the bottom bridge on Rocky Ford....you can make it:)
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I was there a couple weeks ago when it was all still frozen. The road is closed just past the Hermann/Quail parking lot. There is a sink hole in the road. From the north you can make it to the same place, and after making it all the way down there, I had no desire to go north again so I drove around the sinkhole area without any issues. The roads were still partially snow covered when I was there.
Thanks for the heads up Wayne. I thought that road was a thru road and wondered why CWR would close it.
No fish in that spot....I'm pretty careful on roads with my Prius Fishing mobile!
The closure on Morgan Lake Road is south of the soda lake dam access. You can still access upper goose lake if you come from the south
Seep Lakes road is still closed just north of Quail Lake turn off. It's a washed out culvert, a one day repair. Is this a public road, if not who has jurisdiction?
It's a washed out culvert, a SOMEDAY day repair.
Fixed it, lol. Now it aligns with standard response time . . . I'm guessing right after the RF bridge has been repaired/replaced.
Fixed it, lol. Now it aligns with standard response time . . . I'm guessing right after the RF bridge has been repaired/replaced.
Grant money for the RF bridge expires either late this year or next year, so I think it's getting replaced this year.
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