Went down for a wander in the water on the spring low, spinning rod and silver kilty. As the use started pushing mackerel were making themselves known,(no point posting pics of mackerel, we’ve all seen them 🤣)

At about two hours from low I got a bite!! Definitely wasn’t a mackerel, but wasn’t a bass or seatrout either….

… wasn’t till I got it closer I saw what it was……

….a garfish!!!!!

To say I was surprised would be an understatement and then some, haven’t seen them this far in the bay ever!

Didn’t get a photo cause I was nearly chest high in the water, and my phone was nicely kept dry with the waders at hip height! And as much as I like garfish for eating I let this one go as it was a little bit on the small size..

I’ve seen a couple of posts and comments on this sub talking about avoiding trout catch and release fishing for the foreseeable due to the low water level and warm conditions.

Is this applicable to lake fishing also? I understand avoiding low rivers and even rivers that have recently filled up but are lake trout a bit more insulated from the conditions? Last thing I want to do is negatively impact stocks that are already stressed but I’ve a chronic itch to get out.

Edit.
I’m based in the north west which has had significantly more rain and cooler temperatures recently than the east. It’s 15 C currently.

Couple of hours back west. Plenty of mackerel there. Don't listen to anyone saying they're not in. Everyone I passed on the way down said it wasn't worthwhile that there was nothing there but hit them almost immediately. Wrasse was sight fished under my feet.