Fishing stocked lakes a few weeks after they are stocked?

[fisher69]

This was the first year I got out to a stocked lake in town the first week it was stocked with rainbows, and it was neat to actually see schools of fish swimming around and being able to get bites and catch a few. Fast forward a few more weeks, and the lake seems totally different. I'm there for a few hours and don't see a single fish or even get a bite? Whats going on, have they been fished out already? Have they been eaten by other fish in the lake like pike? Have they learned to avoid spots where they were getting caught? Have they grown up a bit and are just staying deeper now?

I thought my trout game was improving this year after getting an ultra lite rod and some braided line and flourocarbon leader, but it feels like I'm back where I was last year and getting skunked at trout lakes regularly.

[trigger7mm]

What lake are you referring too?

[Smoky buck]

They definitely get thinned out and smarter

[Elstunn]

I’d say it’s likely there was some die off, but mostly the fish learn new behaviors relatively quickly. Before they were stocked they waited for food and learned to turn on when they spotted something as it was probably feeding time. But now they are constantly surrounded by midges and daphnia and whatever else so they begin to be more selective. Also it’s possible the following times were just one of those day that they shut off, whether it’s temperature, pressure, sunlight, whatever.

I’d be surprised if it was fished out already even if it is a pond in a town or city. But that isn’t impossible and would be kind of disconcerting.

[aulrich]

They can get fished out fast, Allen Bill when it existed would last maybe 2 weeks

[Coulee]

The trouble with foothills ponds, is that there is a large segment of people who feel it necessary to take home their full limit of six inch fish, instead of releasing them so they be caught again at a much larger size. Not much you can do about that kind of mind-set.

[the local angler]

after they stock the trout ponds with fish this is the best time to learn to fly fish if you haven't tried it or thought about trying it. i have been targeting the stocked ponds for a few weeks now and sat there and watched DAM seagulls gulping down one after another. never knew they dove in like hawks and eagles dive bombing the tiny trout on the shoreline. this is why i think the new stocked trout go deep after they learn about birds dive bombing so they stand a better chance.