Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

Administration at Merrill Creek Reservoir recently announced shorter hours at the lake starting May 1st, 2023. The new hours do not allow a majority of the public to utilize this recreational area.

Merrill Creek Reservoir is not fulfilling their commitment to provide a public preserve, which they AGREED to when they opened.

So the answer is to have a 36 boat bass tournament on a holiday weekend, I just don't understand what is going on here.

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

Completely predictable. If u limit the hours during the week the weekends are going to be packed. This all leads to a full closure.

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

I fished it that day, clueless of the tournament happening that day until i arrived and saw the parking lot nearly full.
I was expecting some issues but the entire day was actually great.

Fortunately, i got there when all the tournament boats were already in the water, so the ramp was all clear for me and some paddlers. By the time I had got off the water, the entire parking lot was emptied out and not a tournament boat in sight. I didnt wait in line at all.

They all came off at 4pm, and the crew at the boat launch let me know before hand that which was a nice heads up. So I got off the lake just before 7pm

FYI, at least the few times i've been to the lake (like 3?) in the last few months, they boat launch was open until 7 or something. Including June 19th which was a Monday.

They're handling it pretty well. Im still not sure what they are doing about the hours but as long as I can stay till 7 throughout the early fall im satisfied.

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

They have “summer” hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Park is open until 8pm but they want boats off the water by 7pm. They switch back to the ridiculous closing times from September to June

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

thanks, yea that sucks, are their still efforts to keep that open longer?

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

In light of all the changes taking place at MCR I thought it rather inconsiderate to hold a tournament there in the middle of summer on what could easily be a very busy weekend. They should hold off on these tournaments at least till the dust settles a bit or hold tournaments either late or early in the year.

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

That's a lot of flippin' & pitchin' lol. Such a goddamn shame. That place was such a gem. Now look at it. Smh...

Re: Merrill Creek Res. question ?
 

Tournament Bass fisherman considerate???

They are called B*******s for a reason.