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Focusing on Recruitment and Angling Success
After several years of poor recruitment, Henrys Lake has shown promising signs for the upcoming fishing season. Last spring, there was a notable increase in two-year-old fish from the 2022 stocking, raising hopes that the 2023 stocking will produce another strong year class. Two consecutive good year classes usually indicate decent angling prospects. Notably, the 2017-year class was exceptional in terms of recruitment, but those fish have since aged out of the fishery.
While the abundance of fish is crucial, other factors such as water inflow and temperature play significant roles in angling success, particularly over the summer. As of today, the snowpack is at 100%, although it's slightly below that for Henrys Lake specifically. Nevertheless, it's shaping up to be a good water year. Adequate inflow depends not just on the snowpack but also on summer conditions and water demand. High water levels at tributary mouths, such as Duck Creek, are essential for good angling. Targhee Creek and Howard Creek tend to be more consistent in providing sufficient flow to concentrate fish in those areas.
Considering all these factors, we may see improved angling this year. Some might argue that it couldn't be worse than the past few years, and that's a valid point. With optimism, we eagerly await this spring's gillnet numbers, which will provide a clearer picture and allow us to give a more confident assessment of the season ahead.
This brings us to the role of the Henrys Lake Foundation. Over the past year, we've had multiple meetings with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to provide support for fish recruitment and ultimately enhance angling success. In addition to an aggressive push on habitat improvement, we’ve focused on what we can bring to the table to enhance stocked fingerling survival. Our role has never been more significant than it is today. It’s not a stretch to say that we’re now a partner in that effort. The IDFG has never been more receptive and willing to accept our input and our recommendations in that area. We’re confident that this cooperation will lead to better fishing for all of us.
We've made excellent progress on several fronts, and we remain committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for Henrys Lake and its fishing community. We encourage you to attend our annual event. We will have some big news to share with you. And specific regarding regulations that many anglers are concerned about, we’ll have some recommendations for moving forward and our role as well.
Damon Keen, Vice President
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