Henry’s Lake

Henry’s Lake, October 14th, 2023

As expected, fishing is improving as cooler weather takes over. Fish are moving towards shallow water making Intermediate lines best for wet fly fishing and floating fly lines effective for presenting patterns suspended below indicators for trying shallow water around the lake.The State Park will remain open for fishing and boat launching but its facilities will close soon. Choice of effective fly patterns depends on the fly fisher with who you converse, but Bill Schiess’s book “Fishing Henry’s Lake” offers the best collection of “tried & true” patterns and how to present them.

Henry’s Lake, October 3rd, 2023

October seems the best time to fish the lake, and the present unsettled weather will help bring that reputation happen. Some reports have fish moving to shallow water, and these opinions suggest fewer but larger fish in the lake. Those opinions remain to be seen as more anglers will be arriving. Effective and varied techniques will change as intermediate lines will be more suited for fishing in shallower water as will floating lines to present patterns suspended under indicators. Effective patterns are numerous this time of the season, and which of these are best depends on who you ask.

Henry’s Lake, September 30th, 2023

YUCK!

The bad news here may be temporary, but it is important. The blue-green algae bloom is extensive enough here for the Idaho Health and Welfare Department to issue a warning that suggests keeping pets and livestock away from lake water and that all visitors wash hands and equipment with clean water before leaving. For those folks harvesting fish, dispose of their organs and skin before any culinary uses.

The good news is that the upcoming stormy weather will help bring on the great fall fishing for which the lake is famed. October is usually the best month for fishing here.

Henry’s Lake, September 9th, 2023

Cooler, longer nights are beginning to awake late season fishing here. Cooling waters are starting to move fish away from depths to the shallows where they will forage on available food forms.

There is an extensive selection of effective flies ( once again, see Bill Schiess’s book ” Fishing Henry’s Lake” ) for successful fishing on the lake, but they are too numerous to present here. As fishing improves on the lake, however, we will receive information on effective patterns and will certainly identify such in order to help offer choices.

Henry’s Lake, August 19th, 2023

Early AM visits to creek inlets and submerged springs are the best places to find action during the current slow fishing times on the lake.This time of the season trout prefer these places having the coolest water in the lake. Floating lines to present standard Henry’s Lake patterns ( See Bill Schiess’s book” Fishing Henry’s Lake) under indicators and intermediate lines to present the same patterns around shallow to deep interfaces work well.

Henry’s Lake, July 18th, 2023

It’s been a relatively slow fishing season on the lake, so far. Here is a way that can improved results. Try fishing at creek or spring inlets. This is where cooler water enters the lake as well as bringing in sub-surface and surface food forms. The trick is to get to these locations as early in the day as possible, even at first light. East side inlets such as Targhee and Howard Creeks are good locations, and there are a number of such creeks an spring inflows on the west side. Floating lines apply as well as patterns suspended under strike indicators. Nothing beats Bill Schiess’s book ” Fishing Henry’s Lake” to find appropriate fly patterns for this or any other strategy for fishing the lake.

Henry’s Lake, June 27th, 2023

No change in fishing success since our last report. Looks like we need warmer water and weather. Maybe some damsel flies being active soon will help, but for now find some submerged springs and sink a midge pupa around it for a bit of action.

Henry’s Lake, June 24th, 2023

Fishing remains slow. Water temps are in the 50s in deg. F, water is mostly clear, with weed growth beginning. A few fish are being caught around submerged springs through using midge pupa patterns suspended under indicators. Better days are ahead!

Henry’s Lake, June 20th, 2023

Fishing on the lake has been uncommonly slow so far. IDF&G surveys indicate fish are there but why the inactivity is anybodies guess.