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“Fall Trout Hunting on Henry’s Lake” by René Harrop

There is something bordering on sinister when a half dozen top Henry’s fork guides are joined by still water master Gareth Jones from Wales and one of Japan’s most aggressive and effective anglers, Masa Katsumata for a four day assault on a single body of water. But this was the picture in late October on one of the world’s most renowned still water fisheries.

Located near the Continental Divide in eastern Idaho, Henry’s lake is the headwater for the equally famous Henry’s Fork of the Snake. Though at times fickle, Henry’s Lake is known for its heavy population of especially large cutthroat, brook trout, and cutt bow hybrids. Hungry for some personal fishing and weary of squinting at tiny Baetis and Midges, the staff members of TroutHunter were also anticipating the opportunity to learn from one of Europe’s most accomplished authorities on still water trout. A Henry’s Fork regular despite its distance from his homeland, Masa was even more pumped up than usual for his first shot at the lake known as Henry. While Masa and Gareth had shared numerous days on various waters around the world, this would be Masa’s first opportunity to watch Gareth apply his specialized still water strategies.

There are times when the lake gets hot and everyone seems to be catching fish. This is how things began on the first day on Henry’s when the weather was reasonably comfortable and the trout unusually charitable. Whether fishing from a boat in open water or wading the edges, fishing was fast and furious with no one from the group landing fewer than twenty fish ranging from eighteen to twenty four inches in size.

Limited by a stiff breeze on the second day, boat fishing gave way to wading the shallows along sheltered stretches of the shoreline. Despite this limitation, the catch rate was at least equal to the previous day or even higher. Double hookups were common and Masa stayed busy running from angler to angler with his camera. Leeches, Scuds, and big Chironomids fished on slow intermediate lines were the fly order of the day, and no single pattern seemed outstanding. Though outdistanced to some extent by our Welsh friend, we locals were beginning to think we might be something close to Gareth’s equal, at least on this particular lake. That would change abruptly, however, on the third day.

With more than one hangover following the season end party at TroutHunter Bar and Grill the night before, the group arrived at the lake to find twenty feet of ice rimming the edge. While essentially calm, the temperature was at least twenty degrees colder than during the first two days. As if iced guides and numb fingers were not complication enough, the fish seemed to have developed lock jaw overnight. And it was then that Gareth’s still water skills truly began to shine.

While no one went fishless, takes became few and far between for the locals who continued to apply the same techniques that had produced so well during the carnage of the previous two days. However, pride eventually gave way to practicality as Gareth demonstrated clear superiority in dealing with the radical change in weather and trout behavior. Generous to a fault, Gareth shared his personally tied flies and helpful tips that allowed everyone to improve upon their initial results. By days end, we had accumulated a respectable tally, especially when you consider that we saw no one outside our group land a single fish that day.

Temperatures improved on the final day but a pesky wind again kept us mostly confined to wading the shoreline. Unfortunately, however, the fish failed to return to the voracious feeding activity that made the first two days so exciting. With a new set of problems to face due to an unfavorable wind direction and discolored water we again turned to Gareth for solutions. Fly adjustment and depth changes soon had us back into business although the catch rate continued to be comparatively low. On the bright side, however, the day produced two big hybrids of more than five pounds and a real giant was lost early that morning before wind forced the boats from open water. The average size improved as well with only a few fish smaller than twenty inches taken.

The vagaries of autumn weather in the high country were manifested by a fierce blizzard overnight but fortunately the roads were clear by noon the following day when Gareth and Masa were scheduled to depart for home. Though their respective flights exceeded 5,000 miles, I’m sure they both carried smiles along with fond memories of a very special lake for the entire distance.

TroutHunter is running some remarkable late season specials through the end of October: 5 Days Guided Fishing & 6 Nights Lodging for $1250 per person! One Day Guided Fishing & One Night's Lodging for $250 per person! Two anglers sharing a room and guide can enjoy some fantastic fishing at unbelievable rates. The Fall offers outstanding uncrowded angling opportunities. Packages include guided float or wade trips in Idaho, Montana & Yellowstone Park and include a streamside lunch. Breakfast, dinner and cocktails at TroutHunter's Last Chance Bar & Grill are a la carte. TroutHunter. Catch the difference

Box Canyon: Water releases out of the Island Park Dam are at 260 cfs. Normal releases for this time of year are 735 cfs. As you can see the water levels are presently far below average for this time in October. At 260 cfs it is very difficult to float the "Box" without punishing your boat. However, at this level, it is very negotiable for the wading fisherman. The low flows force the fish into the deep runs, holes and pools and the wading fisherman can now access almost all of these spots. The most productive flies over the past week or so have been smaller, (size 8 and 10) rubber leg nymphs, small (size 16, 18, & 20) beadhead nymphs and streamers.

Last Chance/Harriman/Wood Road: Fishing throughout this section of the Henry's Fork has been good although problematic . The problem has been the weather. If you have not been watching our weather has been more like winter than fall over the past two weeks. This unusually cold, and at times windy, weather has produced conditions that have made fishing almost impossible. The baetis hatches have been steady throughout this bad weather period and they should continue right on through the rest of the fishing season. The forecast for the coming weeks is for more normal fall weather and therefore much better conditions for are fall baetis fishing.

Warm River to Ashton: This section of the river continues to produce good fishing for small to medium sized trout and whitefish with small rubber legs and beadhead nymphs. Well fished streamers have produced some larger sized brown trout so make sure you have a good supply of your favorite streamer pattern if you plan on fishing this section of the Henry's Fork.

Ashton to Saint Anthony: Fishing on this lower part of the river has been both hot and cold. The section from right below the Ashton Dam down to the Ora bridge has produced excellent fishing with dries, nymphs and streamers. Fishing has been less productive from the Ora bridge down to the Chester backwater. Fishing from Chester down to the Fun Farm has been excellent with streamers and the dry fly fishing with adult baetis imitations has been outstanding around the Fun Farm area. There has also been consistently good fishing from the Fun Farm Dam all the way down to Saint Anthony and beyond with both streamers and baetis imitations.

Henry's Lake: Fishing on the lake has been excellent with leeches and chironomids. We have had to work around the weather over the past two weeks but on those days when the wind was not blowing a gale and the temperatures have stayed above freezing the fishing has been outstanding.

With better weather forecasted in the immediate future it would be a great time to visit the Fork & take advantage of our offseason rates.
-Rick Smith

By Rick Smith

Box Canyon: Water releases from the Island Park Dam are slightly below normal at 600 cfs (725 cfs is average for this time of year). At this flow there is still enough water for floating but it is at a level that allows good wading opportunities for the shore fisherman. Fishing in the "Box" has been very good to excellent lately for good numbers of small to medium sized trout and whitefish. Best results have been with small, size 16, 18 and 20, beadhead nymphs. Some of our favorite beadhead nymphs include red and brown standard Zebra Midges, black and red Krystal Zebra Midges, Red Headed Stepchild's, Flashback Pheasant Tails and Prince nymphs. There has also been some dry fly fishing opportunities with adult midge, BWO and caddis imitations mostly at the upper and lower sections of the canyon. One word of caution about fishing in the "Box" at this time of year. Be prepared to spend some time cleaning off your flies after several drifts. There is quite a bit of moss present in the canyon right now and this presents the angler with a few minor distractions.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch/Wood Road 16: Fishing on the "Ranch" continues to be very good although a bit more challenging than it was a week or so ago. We are in that transition time of year where the summer hatches are quickly winding down and the fall hatches are just beginning. This is a time of year where the properly prepared fisherman approaches his "Ranch" fishing with his fly boxes filled with a wide variety of flies if he or she expects to be successful. There are still some Tricos, PMD's, Callibaetis, Ants (black and honey) and hoppers around providing the angler with good dry fly opportunities. It's just that these insects are not distributed evenly throughout the "Ranch" water. You will find pockets of activity here and there so if you want to be successful you must be prepared to carry enough patterns to change flies and meet the challenges that you are presented with. The same is true with the fall baetis and Mahogany hatches which are just starting.

Riverside to Hatchery Ford and Cardiac Canyon: Fishing on these two sections of the river has been very good with attractor dry fly patterns and beadhead nymphs. One word of caution when fishing on these two somewhat remote sections of the river at this time of year. Be BEAR AWARE!!!

Warm River to Ashton: This section of the Henry's Fork continues to produce excellent fishing for good numbers of small to medium sized trout and whitefish. Dry flies, nymphs and streamers are all producing fish on this section of the river. We expect this part of the river to start producing some larger sized rainbows and browns as we get closer to the end of September and into the month of October.

Ashton to Saint Anthony: The fishing down on this lower portion of the Henry's Fork has been a little slower than normal to materialize. It might be because we are having a nice Indian summer. We probably need a little cooler and nastier weather to get this section of the river going.

Henry's Lake: The lake has been inconsistent lately. You might go out one day and catch a fair number of 16" cutthroats. The next day nothing at all. The day after that you might catch only a few fish but they will be those nice big hybrids. The next day after that nothing again then the following day not many fish but a few good brookies. We would expect the lake to begin to fish much more consistently as we get closer to the month of October.

Other area waters: Hebgen Lake (Montana): Hebgen has held up really well this year and it is still producing excellent fishing for "Gulpers" on the Callibaetis (the Tricos are pretty much over). Fishing on the lake has also be excellent with leeches and nymphs.

Madison River (Montana): Fishing from Quake Lake to Ennis is still very good although it has slowed down a little over the past week or so. Hopper/dropper rigs and streamers have produced the best fishing down on the float sections.

We still have some room & guide availability for this Fall.  Please call us at (208) 558-9900 if we can be helpful in any way.