Still Waters, November 3rd, 2020
Henry’s Lake is iced over, and Sand Creek Ponds are iced over. More still waters will be doing the same soon ( especially this coming weekend). So break out your ice fishing gear!
Henry’s Lake is iced over, and Sand Creek Ponds are iced over. More still waters will be doing the same soon ( especially this coming weekend). So break out your ice fishing gear!
IDF&G stocking records indicate 42000 to 60000 rainbow releases in American Falls and Blackfoot River Reservoir respectively. Crystal Springs and McTucker pond have been stocked with hundreds of the same with supporting stockings coming up very soon. Ice fishing season is coming up. It’s already here on Henry’s Lake.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 1340 cfs (now 1740 cfs at Heise, 660 cfs at Lorenzo) on Thursday making walk-in fishing locations more numerous. We can help with information on which are the best. Get in touch if you are considering a visit one one. Try fishing nymph patterns (with and without a bead) off drop offs, rubberlegs in a bit deeper water. End the day, as cover increases, offering streamer patterns at the top of pools and runs, and in side channels with moderate currents. BWOs remain present, but hatches are decreased in number during these bright fall days.
Do you want to make a trip to fish park waters somewhere? Better hurry: Tomorrow is the last day of the 2020 park fishing season.
Henry’s Lake is iced over enough that a few hardy folks are ice fishing. Yes, that’s a bit early, so Trick or Treat!
Only a few days left for taking part in the crowds fishing for migrating brown trout in the Gardner, Lewis, Madison, and Snake Rivers. Next Sunday is the last day of the 2020 Park fishing season.
See the Main Stem Snake River fishing report for some timely information.
See the Main Stem Snake river fishing report for some timely information.
It is probable that the Main Stem Snake River hosts the best brown trout population in eastern Idaho. Currently mature brown trout are in a spawning mode which begins in late September and extends into late autumn here and in other area streams (lower Henry’s Fork, Portneuf River, South Fork, Warm River). Brown trout sweep out their nests, we call redds, in relatively shallow runs having gravel bottoms with moderate currents of clear, well oxygenated water. Redds can be seen in this type of water as light colored areas containing indentations and varying in size from that of a broad-brimmed hat to a picnic table. Sometimes these areas are interconnected. Under low light condition browns move into these to build then spawn. They leave as daytime lighting increases. As many as several hundred fertilized eggs can be deposited in a single redd. Redds are fragile, so should not be disturbed or walked through. Such action not only disrupts structure but crushes fertilized eggs and releases them to drift in the current. Also, it is not of a sporting nature to try to catch fish in the act of spawning.
Before and after spawning episodes browns move to adjacent in-stream areas offering maximum overhead cover. Typically these are deep holes and runs with structured bottoms. Here they are “fair game” for fishing. Streamer and egg patterns presented using sink-tip or full sink lines with stout leaders make a good strategy for encountering them. Stout leaders allow hooked fish to be played and released quickly thus preserving their energy for the spawning process. So it is that redds hold what is developing into the next generation of brown trout. Therefore the more redds and spawning fish within are left undisturbed the better are the chances that the next generation will be plentiful.
Air temperature was way below zero in West Yellowstone Sunday morning, and area around Henry’s Lake was likely about the same. Ice formed around the edges making fishing from shore and boat launching nearly impossible. But look for melting as warmer weather is coming by the end of the week.