Henry's Lake Trout Size

[ChrisTheFish]

Found this pretty interesting. It is about the size of trout in Henry's Lake decreasing. You might be surprised for the reason they give and what they are doing to counteract it.

http://www.tightlinemedia.com/time-out/video-vault.html
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[flyfishingfool]

That is pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing. 1.3 Million is still a ton of fish!
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[Bmarsh]

looks like they are approaching it as a case that they need to reduce fish numbers to get the size back up. Something that is pretty common in alpine lakes. Be tons of small fish and nothing of size to any of them. It would be nice to see more natural spawning taking place in the creeks around there. But I also am one that would like to see them drop the hybrid stocking and focus soley on the Cuttys and brooks.

Needing more harvest would be a good argument for them to keep it open to Ice fishing longer I would think.
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[ChrisTheFish]

I did think it was interesting considering the general concern of over-harvesting and fish mortality. I'm not saying it is one way or the other, but it is another interesting detail to add to the ongoing discussions.
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[iwantabuggy]

This goes along pretty well with the discussions earlier in the year or late last year about keeping Henry's open longer in the winter for ice fishing. It makes sense to me that if the average size is going down, then perhaps the lake is a bit over populated. There could also be other causes, though. I wonder if they've really looked at all the possibilites.

One thing I have observed over the years is the increase in the quantity of Brook Trout. It seems the Brookie population is way up over what it once was. Is that from natural breeding or do they stock the Brookies? If it is overpopulated as they are saying, why not increase the daily limit by 1. That would thin them down a bit.
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[kentd71]

They started planting Brookies again a few years ago. I caught more and larger ones this year than in the last 20.
Keep the limit at 2 but open it up through March if they want fewer fish, but stock the same number.
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[iwantabuggy]

+1 for K71's comments.
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[flygoddess]

In my talks, what I got out of it, they planted more for the longer season. That combined with the naturals, the lake is now over populated. They are not starving but the growth rate is hampered.

So much for my leave it alone idea[]

So, thought of extending the season and keep the planting which does cost $$$$$ or, STOP right where they are and quit planting....hmmmm
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[Bmarsh]

It does cost $ but how much revenue is generated for the area due to extra time on the season? I'm not a huge fish size guy to stay happy though so huge fish aren't a big of an issue to me
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[flygoddess]

They planted too many fish. People didn't TAKE the fish in the search for the almighty BIG one. They over corrected, sort of. It can be fixed, but I vote for no planting, just let the Lake take care of it like it use to.
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[Phission]

If they stop planting fish, wouldn't that over correct the other way? I wonder what the fishing pressure now vs. when the lake took care of itself looks like.
I don't know, but seems to me that increased limit or extended season would put more pressure on the large fish. I don't hear of anyone targeting the small to middle size fish.
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[flygoddess]

I think it would put more pressure on the bigger fish to. There is a hatcher on the lake. This is just from talking to Dan, a great guy and very passionate about Idaho waters.

Like I said, people really aren't keeping large numbers. Increasing that doesn't help if they are not keeping what they are already allowed.

Good news is, the IFG is on top of this and I am sure they will figure it out. My thoughts would be stop the planting and maybe take that money to help keep the waters clean from invasive species.
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[michael44]

I love the brookies, They are wonderful in the smoker.
I'm perfectly happy with the way things are right now.
I can catch lots of really nice fish, I can keep a few Brooks for the smoker, and still have a good chance at catching a lunker.
if it aint broke........................................
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[flygoddess]

But it was Better. You are describing Island Park...this was and should be a Blue Ribbon fisherie. They are choosing to make it a family lake and that is , but what will be will be. Montana is a hop skip and a jump away.
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[MMDon]

[quote flygoddess]But it was Better. You are describing Island Park...this was and should be a Blue Ribbon fisherie. They are choosing to make it a family lake and that is , but what will be will be. Montana is a hop skip and a jump away.[/quote]

It's become a huge revenue net. Not worth fighting the crowds over any more.
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[flygoddess]

Amen, brotha
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[TheGrovBone]

Interesting info! I'm glad to see the F & G bringing this to the attention of sportsman, rather than the other way around. Too often it seems we a change in wildlife has to be so dramatic that sportsman have to complain - and in big numbers - to get the F & G to look into it. I'm glad the monitor the lake so closely, bravo!
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[flygoddess]

Trust me there is complaining...LOL That was for Dan if he is reading.
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