Fly Fishing Newsletter
10-20-2005

If you haven't been to Island Park this fall you have missed out. We have had some really nasty weather come in early but the rest has just been awesome. However, sometimes when the fishing weather has been its best the catching part of fishing has been off. Then again who can control Mother Nature and the fish with their sometimes fickle ways?

Henry's Lake

Henry's has stayed pretty steady when you could stay on the lake. Some days have been great and some not so great. It's been kind of a funny fall. The Brook trout have staged up to spawn and I know a lot of you have been at the Hatchery trying to catch them. I don't think I have seen them colored so nicely. They are such a gorgeous fish. I know we caught some big brook trout early but to date I have not heard of many big ones being taken. The hybrids are in good numbers mixing it up with the Brookies. We have had some nice ones caught and some mean ol hybrids breaking some line. It's been a fun fall at Henry's. Flies that seem to be working best are the Mity Mouse, Light Olive, BH Electric Black. We have had some success on some other patterns but are unnamed at this point. They would have to fit in the "others" category for now. Places to fish are the Hatchery and the North Shore . Fish are being caught at Stayleys and Duck Creek.

Sheridan Lake

Not sure really how to describe the fishing at Sheridan this last 4 to 5 weeks. The bigger fish went off the feed wagon and we didn't catch as many. Then to make matters worse they did a disappearing act altogether. We would catch a few from time to time along with some littler ones but for the most part they just simply disappeared. There were still fish to catch, but not like it was earlier and you needed to cast some distance before you could get them to hit. It made a few of us scratch our heads and caused some late nights at the vise.

The last few weeks the fish have really gotten excited about life or food or both. They are hitting hard and a lot of them. However, most of these aggressors are the littler ones. Most are weighing in at about a pound to pound and half. They still have been a lot of fun for people to catch. It's a great time to bring someone learning to fly fish. The numbers are way up to give them a chance to really hone some skills. I have to admit that the lake manager and I had a ball catching the little buggers on little buggers. It was even in the rain and we didn't even care. Okay, my wife has stated many times I would and could have fun fishing anywhere anytime.

Well, the BIG FISH are back on Sheridan . They poked their heads up long enough for us to see where they were hiding. We even have caught some of the big buggers but not on little buggers. They are taking a more traditional nymph such as the Pheasant Tail. Oh it's so good to mix things up with the big ones. Most of the same patterns that we use on Henrys are working on Sheridan . They seem to be working all over the Lake at this point with no one real hot spot.

Lynn Scott

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Guided Fly Fishing Services in the greater Island Park and Yellowstone area.
Specializing in guided stillwater fly fishing services on Henry's Lake, Island Park Reservoir, Sheridan Lake.
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