Fly Fishing Newsletter
November-2005

As the end of the year comes close I finally found some time to get a season ender done. What an end to an awesome year of fishing. It wouldn't have been the same without everyone coming to fish with us. Those that I met and those that I fished with made it a great summer. The other guides also had a great time fishing with all of you. It was fun!!

Henry's Lake

The Brookies this year were as boldly colored and pretty as I have seen them. Most of the Brookies caught this year were in that 16" to 19" range. Through the year some were hooked into that 6lb range. With the Brookies staging to spawn there seemed to be a good assortment of cutthroat and hybrids mixed in to make it interesting. The big fish also made their usual appearance and made it interesting for those that were able to hook into some of those monsters for which Henry's is famous. Most fish caught seemed to be at the hatchery while other areas such as Staley's, Duck Creek and Targhee Creek seemed to be in good number off the State Boat ramp towards the end of October. The middle of the lake also produced well. Overall the lake produced well this year and proves to be another great year in 2006. It got a little slow at times but over all it was a great year. All age classes of fish will be represented in good numbers for 2006. It's so exciting seeing the lake come back from where it was 4 years ago. The standard Henry's Lake flies did the trick again this year. If you had the Henry's Lake top ten flies you had all the flies you needed. Okay maybe not all the flies needed but close. There were some new flies this year like the Red and Green naked lady flies which might sneak into the top ten maybe next year. We had some new flies that worked both on Henry's Lake and Sheridan that we haven't named yet. If they produce again this upcoming year we will have to name some of them.

Sheridan Lake

Sheridan Lake had a great season with the fish throwing a wicked curve ball every now and again to keep us humble. Most of those fishing Sheridan this year were treated with hot fish, great runs, and lots of aerial acrobatics along with some of the most gorgeous scenery around. Several of the curve balls we took a mighty swing and missed. Some of them we connected and had great success. The fish won a few and we won a few battles during the summer with the tricky little devils. Winter is to plot and plan for those battles next year. The one wicked curve ball was that a lot of the bigger fish disappeared for awhile. They started to show themselves towards the end of the season with a few folks hooking into them late in the year. Those big fish got real educated and real spooky. They will be a lot smarter next year I'm sure. Also late in the year folks got into a lot of the smaller fish. They sure put on a show with most being about a pound and a quarter. A super time had by those that fished late with a lot of steady action. The hot fly late in the year was the California leech, Lightening Bug and the Flash Back Pheasant Tail. We also started catching fish again on the Purple Show Girl and Big Red. Over the course of the next couple of years you will see more dry fly action. Mike Smith the lake manager has dropped in some Cutthroat trout. They were put in as fingerlings and should really start catching them with some in size 2007. Sheridan Lake will see another great year in 2006 with great Kamloop action. They are as hot a fish as I have seen caught on a fly.

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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