Henrys Lake - Finally

I went fishing on Henrys Lake Monday and today (Wednesday) and had two great days of fishing.  Monday I went by myself looking for fish and found three pockets of them.  The water temperature is at 54 degrees, cold for the fish to bunch up, but found some scattered groups.  I never report numbers or size of fish while I am alone, but had a great time.

Today I fished with two neighbors, Josh and Jeff, and we trolled flies in water about 19 feet deep.  We caught in Hybrid Hole #1 and #2.  Here is Josh with a 20 inch brook trout.

Those holes slowed down, so we went out to the Middle Hole and the "L" Hole where the fishing got really fast and hot.  We caught a total of 30 fish, most of them small two-year old cutts, but got another 20 inch brook trout.  Here is Jeff with a nice cutthroat.

The lightning and storms drove us off the lake about 11:30 a.m.  But we had a great time chasing wild fish in the wilds of Idaho.

Henrys Lake fishing

Weather - 10  Fishermen -1.  Opening Day on Henrys Lake is a crap-shoot at best and this year the weather beat the heck out of the fishermen.  Most fishermen became campers as the rain, snow and wind kept many off the water.  Campgrounds were full, but the lake had only a few boats on it.  Bank fishermen seemed to do the best by casting lures and a few flies like the Red Naked Lady, Beadhead Electric Black and the Mity Mouse.

Monday I made it up, but did not make it on the water due to the wind.  So I did a little bank casting flies to the few fish that were next to the shore.  I did manage to catch a few.  Here a nice cutthroad is landed that fell victom to the Red Naked Lady.

On the way home, I captured this mature Bald eagle who had been feeding on a road-killed elk just east of Henrys Lake.

He should have been out fishing, but the road-kill was easier to get and closer to cover as the rain started once again.  Just another wild day in Idaho.

Spawning at Henrys Lake

Yesterday I drove to Henrys Lake and met with Damon, the manager at the Henrys Lake Hatchery.  The run this year has been outstandingly consistent.  Damon has had 3837 cutthroats and 109 hybrids run into the hatchery.  He has collected over 3 million eggs and have made all of the hybrids.  The largest fish he has seen has been hybrids in the seven pound class.

Here is a picture of Damon and his grandson holding a large male hybrid.

Damon's goal is about 5 million eggs and he plans on spawning nine more times.  He says the lake looks very good for another good season, it the water is good.