Hybrids at Henrys Lake

After three weeks of busy Saturdays, I finally got one off and headed to Henrys Lake for some early morning fishing.  Some fish were rising in the Staley Springs area, so I stayed there.  My first fish was a very large hybrid.

Not ten minutes later I got another hybrid, just a little smaller.  No measurements or weight - just great battles and released to fight again.

Pictures are hard to take while battling fish by yourself.  But what a joy it is to hook and wrestle them.

Four cutthroats were also caught, before I headed to help a neighbor get a load of firewood.  Just another wild day in Idaho.

Henrys Lake again

Yesterday I got some calls that businesses were running out of flies and my book, so about 4 p.m. I took some up to Ashton and Island Park.

Of course I took my fly rod and flies so I could fish for a couple of hours before it got dark.  Only caught four fish - but one was a big hybrid at Duck Creek and one was a 22 inch brook trout at Howard Creek.

It had stormed the day before and the water was still murky, so I used the Gold Glimmer fly and it was successful, but slow fishing.  Henrys Lake should really get good around Howard Creek in the next two to three weeks - if you can miss the storms and muddy water.

Sturgeon Fishing - JC Strike Res area

A friend of mine, Gary, invited me to go sturgeon fishing for a couple of days, so 3 a.m. we left home for a four hour drive to the JC Strike Reservoir area.  We started fishing Tuesday morning at 7:20 in a hole in the Snake River above the reservoir.

Using a 12 foot rod with a six ounce weight and fishing for fish over 100 pounds was way out of my league.  I could not cast the rod.  Gary had pitty on me and cast for me.

My first sturgeon was a 2 footer - small, but about six years old.  But what a beautiful fish.  The scutes on the back were sharp and rough - probably to protect them from being eaten.

Not too long after, the slow dip of the rod indicated another sturgeon.  I set the hook and it did not budge - I had the bottom - so I thought.  Soon the bottom moved up river.  Forty minutes later, Gary tailed my fish - a seven and a half footer - probably about 180 pounds.  Here I am about to release the largest fish I have ever caught in my life.

About 30 minutes later, Gary lands a six and a half footer.

Then late in the afternoon, I got a four footer.  Here Gary is unhooking it.  A great fish, but much smaller than the big ones.

We caught some squawfish and bass, but went sturgeonless for that evening and the next day, but what a trip.  One good enough for a lifetime of memories and thrills.

Those fish better get ready, because I will be back to wrestle with them once again.