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Fly Fishing Newsletter
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Hope everyone has thier firewood in, snow blowers all checked, snow shovels ready and have the last outside honey do's done. It's getting ready to get cold and snow. We are sure seeing the signs out on the lake such as ice forming around the edges of the lake.
Henry's Lake
The fall fishing still continues to be a hit and miss proposition. When you hit it just right WOW! it can be alot of fun. The weather being the major player in fishing conditions on the lake. With each storm system the wind tend to be a real negative factor. Sometimes it's the North wind tearing up the lake one way and the South wind tearing up the other parts. The wind has really made the water off color to say the least. The conditions of the lake range from the state boat dock area being muddy with the other parts of the lake being cloudy but fishable. The night time temperatures tend to be really chilly with some day time temperatures not getting much warmer. Some of the days however, have been really quite nice such as last Saturday the 28th.
The fish being caught are mostly the 3 year old fish in that 3lb to 4lb range with some into the 5lb to 6lb range. We are seeing some of the monster piggies too. Some of those are into the 8lb to 12lb range. We are having some good double digit days along with some not so hot days. Most of this is due to weather and water conditions.
Best places to fish are Staley Springs, North Shore from Wild Rose to the East End and the State Park area when the water isn't as thick as mud. The North winds have really messed with that side of the lake. It has started to clear some and when it does it will be decent again. Along with that however, will come the hoards of people at the State Park and Combat fishing at its finest will return. Most people are pretty decent but there are always a few that raise an eyebrow and some that really down right tick people off. There have been some reports of fish being caught at Targhee and Hope Creek as well.
The flies doing well are a real variety. One day it could be black colors working the next it could be brown. Some days its big leech patterns the next it's something smaller. Sometimes it's something you haven't used in a decade or two. It's been a little different than years past. If I had to pick ---brown and black would be the choice of colors. I had a couple of gentleman drift past me on Saturday after we had caught some fish. He asked the famous question----“what ya using”. The guy I think thought I was being rude when I stated that “I didn't know, they are flies with no names”. This being totally true as they were new flies to me with no names. The one fly I tied up at 12:30am that morning before the trip. Still haven't got a name for a lot of them yet. Hopefully this winter we can get some names attached and bring everyone up to date.
The real key however wasn't the fly---it was how it was being used. We were catching fish on different kinds of flies.
I have heard Bill over and over in our discussions and in presentations that he has done over the years that the fly is not the most important key. There are many factors that come into play before the fly. Things like stripping technique, depth, type of line, positioning of the boat along with many other factors.
It's been long over due in saying a few words about those that have helped me. I think the sign of a truly great teacher is for those students that one teaches to fully understand, implement, replicate and to build from what they have been taught. To Bill and my Father and my fishin buddies I say Thanks!! They all have taught me well. Sometimes I haven't always listened, or been as attentive as I should have been and I'm far from having claim to have all the answers. Some of you know as we have had our butts spanked out on the lake by those fish we love. Being a good student means however, you are always learning and never done. I have also learned from those that have come to fish with us and from some of the other fly fishermen out on the lake. Some of you have been excellent fly fishermen and excellent teachers too.
Long story short, Stillwater Fly Fishing isn't easy but boy have I had fun learning. I have been able to learn from the best and hopefully will continue to have fun learning.
Keep in mind that Henrys Lake is open until the end of November!! We are in uncharted territory so we will have to see how it all turns out. We will continue to take trips out as long as weather and conditions hold up.
Again, remember Henrys Lake is open to fishing until November 30th. We will be doing trips as long as we can for those really----well crazy folks :))
Sheridan Lake
Lynn Scott
For the latest and greatest information on fishing conditions check out the fishing report and our newletters.