Buzz and Betty On Henry's Lake, Idaho

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07-08-2009, 09:39 PM
kglissmeyer

Buzz and Betty On Henry's Lake, Idaho

My fishing buddy, Buzz and his wife, Betty have spent the last month camped at Henry's Lake in Island Park, Idaho. The fishing started off slow, but has redeemed itself during the last couple of weeks. They had early success with a midge pattern drifted under a strike indicator with the wave action giving the fly the movement it needed to get the fish feeding. They dropped two flies, one a bead-head for weight and then the midge pattern as a dropper and were using 12 to 15-foot leaders to get to where the fish were.
Buzz caught a whopper as reported by John Scott earlier, an 11-lb Cutthroat that was chock full of just midges.
This past week they have had more success, with Brook Trout making up the majority of the fish caught. Most on midges, but some on scuds (size #16 olive/gray), and some on an old Henry's Lake favorite the Mighty Mouse(a leech imitation, or maybe a Dragonfly imitation).
Reports from Jimmy's All Seaon Anglers in Idaho Falls say that the annual Damselfly hatch is just beginning so this may be an option for some of you who can get here. Here's the link: http://jimmysflyshop.com/

Anyway, Buzz just got the pics to me so I'll share them here. Enjoy!

Here's another look at the 11 pounder:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP10811.jpg

Also another view for effect (can you believe how fat this fish is?! Only midges in it's stomach):

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP10821.jpg

Here's the bug that did the job on most of the fish, even the bruiser:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP10901.jpg

Another nice Cutt:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP11001.jpg

More pics to come in the next post.

Kelly.
07-08-2009, 09:43 PM
kglissmeyer

Here are more pics:

Betty with a great fish:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v...e/100_0154.jpg

Betty's Brookie caught yesterday morning:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP11051.jpg

Another Brookie for Buzz:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP11111.jpg

A nice one in the net:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP11041.jpg

One more post to get them all...
07-08-2009, 09:46 PM
kglissmeyer

Last pic to show Buzz with another nice Cutt:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP10831.jpg

In all, Buzz reports that it was a fun trip and the big Cutt really made it all worth it, as well as the great Brook Trout.

Things should really be hot for the Damselfly emergence, but will probably slow down as things warm up and won't turn on again until September or so.

Thanks for the pics Buzz!

Kelly.
07-08-2009, 09:50 PM
Betty Hiner

I'm so disappointed! I read your title, and thought, "Wow!! I got to go fishing!!" But ... nooooooo ... someone else named Betty!

Hot darn!! She did great!!!!! Beautiful fish!
07-09-2009, 03:46 AM
Beaver

Kelly,

Wow, some great fishing there in Idaho. Those are some great fish, especially that bow that looks like a salmon. Did I mention WOW!!!! Thanks for the report.

Beaver

PS Is the damsel hatch just as awesome?
07-09-2009, 02:13 PM
kglissmeyer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaver

Kelly,

Wow, some great fishing there in Idaho. Those are some great fish, especially that bow that looks like a salmon. Did I mention WOW!!!! Thanks for the report.

Beaver

PS Is the damsel hatch just as awesome?

The Damsel hatch is reported to be the best hatch of the year when one can catch a fish of a lifetime, but it's a rather quick occurence and if you blink you may miss it.
Kelly.
07-09-2009, 02:33 PM
lastchance

Fantastic Fish

Great photos. You look like you're having a great time. Good for you.

Is that a black miracle midge with a peacock herl thorax?
07-09-2009, 03:05 PM
kglissmeyer

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastchance

Great photos. You look like you're having a great time. Good for you.

Is that a black miracle midge with a peacock herl thorax?

That is a Chan's Midge using burgundy thread, red scud back with a silver wire rib. The Thorax is white ostrich herl at the front and peacock at the back with pheasant-tail pulled over the top.

Here's a good article on Chan's methods: http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/ta...nomid-tactics/

Hope that helps.

Kelly.
07-09-2009, 09:16 PM
Henrys' Lake Fanatic

Thanks for the Henrys update Kelly. My favourite topic. I also have a lucky friend on the lake this summer. I spoke with him yesterday and so far no real damselfly action. I'm hoping the bugs wait untill the 19th, when I will back at Wildrose for another week.
I also have heard reports of large numbers of brookies, percentage wise this year. Big uns too!!

ed
07-09-2009, 09:22 PM
kglissmeyer

HLF, you're right about the damsel action - nothing of yet. Just got off of the phone with Buzz and he and Betty caught six nice fish (4 Brookies, 2 Cutts) all near the Targhee inlet in about 10 feet of water using the indicator and midge method. This time the midge was an olive color ( same tie as the burgundy and silver, using instead olive thread, olive scud back and gold wire)and most of the fish had either olive midges or scuds in them, but mostly scuds - no damsels. With the majority of bugs in the fish being olive scuds I think the olive midge patterns were more of a scud imitation than midges.

They're packing up and leaving tomorrow, so this may be the last report I can give of how they're doing.

Kelly.
07-10-2009, 04:44 AM
Henrys' Lake Fanatic

Yes, but there are others with knowledge. And we will find them. And soon their knowledge will be ours. And it will do us no good because we will arrive after the fact. This knowledge will cause us to ignore tasks at hand, thinking about the future,and whether or not the new knowledge is true,and when we can finally try our hand with this new knowledge..oh hell I have work to do;)

ed

ps I think Buzzs fish is the biggest i've heard about so far.(certainly the biggest photo from this year that I've seen) Congrats to them on their trip.
07-11-2009, 02:48 PM
Grubb

Nice report and very nice pics... Of course the Brookie's caught my eye, so good to see folks smile and enjoying themselves...
Thanks for taking us along...:)
07-11-2009, 09:16 PM
kglissmeyer

Last day, yesterday morning, Buzz and Betty were able to spend one last few hours on the lake before heading home. Betty caught two and Buzz one. I think Buzz said that two were Brookies and one Cutt.
They had a fabulous trip and have already made reservations for next year. It was fun to spend a few of those days with Buzz and we're both looking forward to this Fall when things should really turn on.
Hope everyone enjoyed this thread, and thanks to Buzz and Betty for providing us with some great pics and a wonderful adventure.

Kelly.
07-12-2009, 02:31 AM
st.croixguy

Too Bad!

To bad you had to kill all those beautiful fish. Might as well just used power bait and treble hooks.

sad.....

SCG
07-12-2009, 02:40 AM
kglissmeyer

Who said they all were killed? Back up the boat and get off your horse. We all have our ways and there's no saying yours is better or worse...
07-13-2009, 03:05 AM
st.croixguy

My way

My way doesn't involve killing fish.

SCG
07-13-2009, 05:25 AM
Henrys' Lake Fanatic

Quote:

Originally Posted by st.croixguy

My way doesn't involve killing fish.

SCG

i might delicately suggest, st. croixguy, that perhaps you are making assumptions about those fish, and the fisherman without knowing anything about either. I might even make an assumption of my own, while we're at it.
That the people you are directing your comments too care alot about this lake, and its fish. I don't know them at all, but I'll stand by my assumption,anyways.

ed
07-13-2009, 02:01 PM
kglissmeyer

Thanks, HLF. Assumptions get us all in a lot of trouble. Too bad that some folks feel their way is the only way and then attack others for not holding the same views. I happen to know that only one fish was kept during the time I reported on my friends success on Henry's Lake. If this is wrong, then I submit that it's only wrong to some and not all. I read a recent article on FAOL concerning a 100+ panfish day and how those fish were harvested, yet no negative vibes concerning that action. I pride myself on my catch-and-release ethic, nevertheless I also recognize that taking a fish now and then can be good for the water. Many catch-and-release advocates are now promoting a vigorous campaign to harvest rainbow trout out of the Snake River fishery here in Idaho as a means of rescuing the native Cutthroat population. Many guides and activists alike are on board with this. For us, as a fly fishing culture and community to decide how we should parctice our beliefs is the very thing that will bring us all down.
But, I guess, this is just my opinion too. What I feel badly about is that someone decided to ruin the beauty of this thread and it's participants with such an attack. My friend Buzz also promotes catch-and-release, but believes in moderation in all things and to be wise stewards means to be smart stewards.
If someone wants to continue this discussion take it to another forum and leave this report alone.

Thanks,

Kelly.
07-14-2009, 12:29 AM
Beaver

Hey Kelly,

I really like that midge. Is the red scud back wrapped over the burgundy thread then ribbed with wire? Then it looked like you pulled the pheasant from the eye of the hook to the middle of the hook. Thanks

Beaver
07-14-2009, 07:40 PM
kglissmeyer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaver

Hey Kelly,

I really like that midge. Is the red scud back wrapped over the burgundy thread then ribbed with wire? Then it looked like you pulled the pheasant from the eye of the hook to the middle of the hook. Thanks

Beaver

Beaver, you've got it exactly right. Tie in the wire first, then the scud-back, wrap the scud-back up over the thread body and rib with the wire. The Pheasant tail is then tied in by the tips at the eye and, working back now, tie in a couple of wraps of white maribou or ostrich for gills, a few wraps behind that of peacock, pull the pheasant-tails back over the maribou and peacock and tie it off and you're finished. One of the simplest yet most lifelike midge patterns I've seen. Mine are tied on a DaiRiki #125 hook in size #12.

Buzz uses ostrich, but I like maribou tips wraped like hackle:
These are tied by Buzz
http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v.../IMGP10901.jpg

And, these are tied by me:

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/v...SANY0680-1.jpg

Good Luck.

Kelly.
07-15-2009, 01:16 AM
Beaver

Kelly,

Thanks for the pattern and the instructions. I am definitely going to tie some up. Thanks again.
Note: I noticed Buz's flies were tied on barbless hooks which suggests C&R if you ask me. But just my opinion.

Beaver
07-15-2009, 01:22 AM
kglissmeyer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaver

Kelly,

Thanks for the pattern and the instructions. I am definitely going to tie some up. Thanks again.
Note: I noticed Buz's flies were tied on barbless hooks which suggests C&R if you ask me. But just my opinion.

Beaver

Thanks, Beaver, hope you find success on that fly. You noticed correctly, Buzz is truly a Catch-and-Realease advocate, but he, like many others, harvests a fish from time-to-time and I can find no fault in that.

Kelly.
07-16-2009, 04:15 AM
Henrys' Lake Fanatic

I like the catch and release (of human flesh) properties of barbless for my own benefit on Henrys, especially if fishing more than one fly.I buy em barbed ( cant tie... yet) annd bend them down. Or, I forget to, and get the hook stuck in that nice spot between the nail and the skin on the thumb or forefinger.;)