Island Park Idaho - Hotel, Lodging, Recreation, and Fishing

Henrys Fork
The Henrys Fork has fished well this spring and summer. The river above Island Park Reservoir is stocked regularly with catchable rainbow trout, so for anglers looking for a great family float, with some harvest opportunity, take a canoe and float from Big Springs to Mack’s Inn. The Box Canyon is fishing well this summer, as trout populations continue to show improvement following two winters with good flows. The Harriman Ranch has been good for those anglers who prefer quality and a challenge more than high catch rates. The fishery below Ashton Dam was excellent through June, but after mid-July, high water temperatures slow the action. Though anglers who fish until dusk will typically find some action, the mid-day fishery won’t likely pick up until September. If planning to fish the lower river, please recognize that access on the lower river is dependent on willing landowners, so be courteous and respectful of private property.

Henrys Lake
Overall, fishing on Henrys Lake has been excellent this season. Catch rates have averaged about 0.5 fish per hour, and there have been several fish caught over 10 pounds. Now that aquatic plants have grown tall, the fishing is mostly limited to fishing from anchored boats. This is a productive method for bait, fly, and lure anglers. A two fish daily limit and two fish possession limit apply to Henrys Lake.

Fishing Conditions, Prospects  By Jim Fredricks, Regional Fisheries Manager

As drought relinquishes the stranglehold it has had on reservoirs and streams for the past five years, 2006 should be an outstanding year for the fishing throughout the Upper Snake Region.

Henrys Fork
The fishery along the famed upper reaches of Henrys Fork, including Box Canyon and Harriman Ranch, will continue to improve over the past couple of years. The size of the trout population is largely driven by the number of juveniles surviving through the winter in preceding years. The fishery declined in 2003-2005 because of low, drought-related winter flows from Island Park Dam. The average density in Box Canyon is around 3,000 fish per mile. Densities reached a low in 2003 and 2004 of about 1,600 fish per mile. Fortunately, flows have been higher during the past two winters and the fishery is growing. Densities in 2005 had improved to more than 1,900 fish per mile and we expect to see continued improvement in 2006.

The Henrys Fork from the Warm River to Chester is generally less impacted by drought-related flows. Though the average size is less than in other reaches, some of the highest densities in the Henrys Fork will be found between the Warm River and Ashton Reservoir. Average densities are about 2,200 fish per mile, and indications are that densities in 2006 will be at or above the average. On average, the largest fish will be found in the reach between Ashton Reservoir and St. Anthony. Anglers are reminded that much of the access in this reach is through private property. Please park only in designated areas to avoid blocking farm equipment and please, do not leave any trash. When fishing on private farm land, do not let dogs run free. Failure to exercise these courtesies could result in the loss of miles of walk and wade fishing to the public.

Henrys Lake
The years 2003 and 2004 were not kind to the Henrys Lake fishery, Low lake level, warm summers, and a weak year-class of fish combined to make some poor fishing. Fortunately, the fishery bounced back in a big way in 2005.

A creel survey for 2005 showed catch rates were near the long-term average at about 0.5 fish per hour, and an average size of 16 inches for cutthroat and 20 inches for hybrids. There was an exceptional number of large fish caught, with an estimated 1,200 fish over eight pounds landed throughout the season.

All indications are that 2006 should be an outstanding season as well. The lake will be full for the first time in five years, and oxygen levels under the ice were high throughout this past winter. The strong 2- and 3-year-old cutthroats from last year will make good 3- and 4-year-old age-classes during 2006, meaning numerous cutthroats in the 16- to 18-inch range. Henrys Lake should also offer an excellent opportunity to catch a hybrid over five pounds. Because brook trout stocking resumed in 2002, we will also see numerous 3- and four-year-old brook trout represented during the 2006 season.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 28th, 2006 at 2:47 pm and is filed under Fishing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Henrys Fork
The Henrys Fork has fished well this spring and summer. The river above Island Park Reservoir is stocked regularly with catchable rainbow trout, so for anglers looking for a great family float, with some harvest opportunity, take a canoe and float from Big Springs to Mack’s Inn. The Box Canyon is fishing well this summer, as trout populations continue to show improvement following two winters with good flows. The Harriman Ranch has been good for those anglers who prefer quality and a challenge more than high catch rates. The fishery below Ashton Dam was excellent through June, but after mid-July, high water temperatures slow the action. Though anglers who fish until dusk will typically find some action, the mid-day fishery won’t likely pick up until September. If planning to fish the lower river, please recognize that access on the lower river is dependent on willing landowners, so be courteous and respectful of private property.

Henrys Lake
Overall, fishing on Henrys Lake has been excellent this season. Catch rates have averaged about 0.5 fish per hour, and there have been several fish caught over 10 pounds. Now that aquatic plants have grown tall, the fishing is mostly limited to fishing from anchored boats. This is a productive method for bait, fly, and lure anglers. A two fish daily limit and two fish possession limit apply to Henrys Lake.

Fishing Conditions, Prospects  By Jim Fredricks, Regional Fisheries Manager

As drought relinquishes the stranglehold it has had on reservoirs and streams for the past five years, 2006 should be an outstanding year for the fishing throughout the Upper Snake Region.

Henrys Fork
The fishery along the famed upper reaches of Henrys Fork, including Box Canyon and Harriman Ranch, will continue to improve over the past couple of years. The size of the trout population is largely driven by the number of juveniles surviving through the winter in preceding years. The fishery declined in 2003-2005 because of low, drought-related winter flows from Island Park Dam. The average density in Box Canyon is around 3,000 fish per mile. Densities reached a low in 2003 and 2004 of about 1,600 fish per mile. Fortunately, flows have been higher during the past two winters and the fishery is growing. Densities in 2005 had improved to more than 1,900 fish per mile and we expect to see continued improvement in 2006.

The Henrys Fork from the Warm River to Chester is generally less impacted by drought-related flows. Though the average size is less than in other reaches, some of the highest densities in the Henrys Fork will be found between the Warm River and Ashton Reservoir. Average densities are about 2,200 fish per mile, and indications are that densities in 2006 will be at or above the average. On average, the largest fish will be found in the reach between Ashton Reservoir and St. Anthony. Anglers are reminded that much of the access in this reach is through private property. Please park only in designated areas to avoid blocking farm equipment and please, do not leave any trash. When fishing on private farm land, do not let dogs run free. Failure to exercise these courtesies could result in the loss of miles of walk and wade fishing to the public.

Henrys Lake
The years 2003 and 2004 were not kind to the Henrys Lake fishery, Low lake level, warm summers, and a weak year-class of fish combined to make some poor fishing. Fortunately, the fishery bounced back in a big way in 2005.

A creel survey for 2005 showed catch rates were near the long-term average at about 0.5 fish per hour, and an average size of 16 inches for cutthroat and 20 inches for hybrids. There was an exceptional number of large fish caught, with an estimated 1,200 fish over eight pounds landed throughout the season.

All indications are that 2006 should be an outstanding season as well. The lake will be full for the first time in five years, and oxygen levels under the ice were high throughout this past winter. The strong 2- and 3-year-old cutthroats from last year will make good 3- and 4-year-old age-classes during 2006, meaning numerous cutthroats in the 16- to 18-inch range. Henrys Lake should also offer an excellent opportunity to catch a hybrid over five pounds. Because brook trout stocking resumed in 2002, we will also see numerous 3- and four-year-old brook trout represented during the 2006 season.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 28th, 2006 at 2:47 pm and is filed under Fishing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.