Henry's Fork

...did you ever stand and shiver
just because you were looking
at a river? -Ramblin' Jack Elliott


The Henry's Fork was named the favorite river by members of Trout Unlimited for good reason. With over fifty miles of compelling and remarkably varied water, an angler can spend days on end without fishing the same stretch and constantly experiencing different angling situations that require diverse problem solving methodology to be successful.

The Box Canyon is three miles of swift boulder strewn pocket water. This beautiful stretch of water is rich in stonefly and mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa, and sculpin. It is home to notably fat and powerful Rainbow Trout. The nymphing angler often experiences days catching great numbers of fish of all size classes. Those looking to target large fish with streamers will enjoy a float down the canyon. At certain times of the year anglers are treated to dry fly action in "The Box" as Salmonfly, Golden Stone, Caddis and Grass Hopper imitations invoke explosive strikes from fish. Our guides walk their drift boats and position them in such a way that you may access runs inaccessible to the wading angler. Each season a few of our guided clients land brutes over eight pounds as a result of such efforts.

TroutHunter is located on the Henry's Fork at Last Chance run, the productive dry fly stretch between the Box Canyon and Harriman State Park.

Harriman State Park, the crown jewel of the Idaho State Park system, is situated in the heart of a 16,000 acre wildlife reserve. This sanctuary protects a diversity of birds and mammals similar to that of nearby Yellowstone National Park. The property, also known as the Railroad Ranch, was once the private retreat of the Harriman family, of Union Pacific fame, and the Guggenheims, then prominent in the copper industry. The rich wildlife habitat has been preserved since the turn of the century when the owners established a private hunting reserve and working cattle ranch. For 75 years, the ranch maintained healthy game, waterfowl and fish populations, allowing today’s park visitors to observe a rare concentration of wildlife in its scenic, natural surrounding. Roland Harriman generously donated the Harriman Ranch to the State of Idaho in 1977 "because we felt such lasting gratitude for our many years of a full life at the Railroad Ranch and because we could not face the prospect of its becoming nothing more than an uncontrolled real estate development with hot dog stands and cheap honky tonks and because we could foresee the necessity for preserving such property for the enjoyment of future generations." Twenty seven of the original Railroad Ranch buildings, from the cookhouse to the horse barn, are still intact, furnished and carefully maintained.

The Harriman Ranch is as captivating and technical a stretch of water as you will find anywhere in the world. The river slows down to a sexy crawl as it enters The Ranch. Many a well-traveled fisherman has settled down here to spend the vast majority of his remaining angling days stalking the large, wary rainbows with which this section of river has become synonymous. Nearly all of this area is very easily waded and its openness affords unobstructed casting. The slow water stretches of the Henry's Fork are so rich in quantity and diversity of aquatic insect life that the trout need not be opportunistic. Instead resident Rainbows have the luxury of much more food passing by them than they could possibly ingest. A fish that eats an infinitesimal percentage of the natural insects it sees is a very difficult one to coax to an artificial offering. To complicate matters, several different insect hatches often occur simultaneously. Individual fish, in turn, key in on specific life stages of specific species of insects. Proper fly selection, based on careful observation, is critical. Approaching this stretch with reverence, a degree of humility, and tempered expectations can result in priceless memories. Enjoy the the pristine surroundings, test your skills, and savor your victories. You will be glad that you did.  

Below East Harriman, the Henry's Fork changes personality markedly.  The gradiant becomes steeper and the river runs many miles through steep canyon walls.  This remote reach fishes similarly to the Box Canyon.  There are days you can float from Riverside campground to Hatchery Ford or through the Cardiac Canyon and not see another angler.

At Mesa Falls the river crashes 114 feet down over the top of one those ancient volcanic flows. The display of raw power prompted author Wallace Stegner to recall his first visit to the area. "I gave my heart to the mountains the minute I stood beside this river with its spray in my face and watched thunder into foam, smooth to green glass over sunken rocks, shatter to foam again. I was fascinated by how it sped by and yet was always there; its roar shook both the earth and me."

The Lower River, the stretch of the Henry's Fork downstream of the Warm River to the the confluence with the South Fork, offers great contrast to the technical waters of the Ranch with its more forgiving, action-packed fishing. The Warm River to Ashton float offers some of the region's best scenery in addition to its plentiful Rainbow and Brown Trout. Over the course of the season you will find trout rising to Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Hoppers, and Blue Winged Olives. Additionally, attractor dries, nymphs, and streamers account for many of the trout caught on this section The tailwater stretch below the Ashton Dam to the Chester Dam is a flourishing fishery. The water is varied with riffles, runs, pools, and islands adding character as it flows through valley farm land. It fishes best in the early and late seasons. June and July are marked by wonderful surface activity as trout feed freely on Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Green Drakes, Grey Drakes, Flavs, PMDs, and Caddis. The dry fly fishing picks up again in the late summer as fish hammer hoppers, and continues through Fall with good hatches of BWOs and Midges. This is a healthy fishery that holds incredibly strong trout of all sizes, including some of the largest trout landed by our clients each year.