Fishing Forum

As I was driving up to Henrys for the third time this week I started to count my blessings and reflect on my experience this year. I don't know if I am just getting older and more sentimental or it was the "Rockstar" talking, but I came to the conclusion that life is pretty good.


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I was able to fish with all my boys this week. The highlight was watching my older son do everything for himself. This is the first trip that I can recall where he didn't need my help for anything. He even went off for a while and fished with one of his friends. I'm a little to say he did just fine without me.

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Another highlight was my second son catching a 27" hybrid. He sometimes is overshadowed by the personality of his older brother. He didn't play second fiddle to anyone this week.


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My youngest son wanted to get into the action as well so I went back up on Saturday morning. The air temp was -11 when we set up. My youngest had been begging me for days, then he was so excited he couldn't sleep, then he talked the whole drive up...then he was patient while I set up the ice house and got the heater going...then he started screaming, "I want my mommy, I want to go home!" After about twenty minutes of this he passed out for an hour and then woke up excited to fish and was great the rest of the morning.


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There is something special about camping on the ice. I know I a little crazy, but my boys love it and nothing beats the stars at night or the sunrise in the morning. The highlight was my son cooking the fish and then the hot chocolate run to West Yellowstone.

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I also reflected on how lucky I am to have good neighbors who love to fish. They got into some nice ones as well.


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Yes we got into huge numbers of fish. Yes we caught a few big ones, but the memories that really stuck out were how beautiful the fish, the sunrises, my kids, and my neighbors are.

I hope you all were as lucky as I was this week.

Windriver

I'm just testing the reply function. Someone sent me a pm and said it wasn't working. This thread took me 45 minutes to put together. 60 views no replys. Maybe it is broken.

Windriver
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Seems to be working fine on my phone at least. [:/]
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Yes it was cold Sat morning. We fished the East side of the lake and did ok but not the big numbers you had. I am glad the wind did not blow with it being that cold. Going up next weekend with the kids and going to fish late into the evening friday night. If I can keep them from stepping in the holes things will be ok.
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I'm jealous. Looks like you had a great time with your kids, my youngest is 23 and I made him promise that for my fathers day present, he would go to Henrys ice fishing with me. Hope there are some fish left. Where did you park and how far are people having to walk?
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I can't imagine a more appropriate thanksgiving week post. Thanks for sharing your awesome experience with us. Your boys look pretty excited.

We were up on Friday and managed to catch good numbers of fish around the hatchery before the wind decided to beat us up. 22 inches was our biggest cutthroat. Looks like maybe we should have tried staley springs. Oh well, can't complain, we caught plenty fish! I must say, my new jigger totters worked amazingly well as a lot of the fish were biting very lightly.

Thanks again windriver for the post!

Cole
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Thanks for the report Windriver. Awesome memories you have created for your sons. I need to quit worrying about steelhead and hunting for a while and get my kids out there with me. Henrys will be closed before I know it and I will be regretting not going.
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I love seeing people focus on their kids when they first start fishing. I managed to get my little guy out there on Friday. I can't wait to get him out again. All he talks about is ice fishing and constantly asks to see youtube videos about it. A report with pics is on my blog, it's a pain to duplicate it.

One question WR, I assume you use cots when you camp on the ice. How do you keep warm with the airflow underneath?
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Awesome report and it is wonderfull to hear when things are in the right respective and importance!
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I also forgot to ask, how did the number of people there at Staleys affect the fishing? I would think that will all the power augers that get taken out there the fishing would become spotty?
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Beautiful pics of family and fish im sure you and they will look back on wonderful memories [cool] one question are the fish always that colorful or does the colder water or time of year help out?
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What a trip you had. It almost makes me want to try it but I hate the cold with a passion plus now that I hit the 70 mark that just adds to it. [:/]

Went and stopped at Henry's last July on our way home from South Dakota via Yellowstone just to take a look. No fishing gear with me. Definitely got to try it one of these days. Awesome fish and glad your boys had a great time.
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I can't say I'm an expert on the reasons for the richer coloring in the fish, but I would guess that it is because of the fall-winter spawn. I think they milk the fish for spawning up there during the winter, but I've never gone up there to do it so I'm not certain.
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That's the kind of post that makes my day! ... thanks for sharing!
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Amazing post with beautiful fish and even more beautiful s on a bunch of boys!

Helping your kids catch fish is more fun than catching them yourself! Your boys are lucky to have a dad that focuses on them having a good positive experience in the outdoors. When it comes down to it, it really isn't about money or even how many fish you catch, its about love of the outdoors, friends, and family. We all have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you for expressing it so well in your post and sharing it with us.
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I was wondering when is it closed and why such a short season
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On the cot question. I haven't camped on the ice, but I do use a hammock on some pretty cold mountains. If you use a cot you have to get some good uncompressed insulation under you. Several closed cell foam pads will work as well as inflatable pads that have foam or insulation in them. Thermarest or generic pads such a Cabela's will work

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-S...l+Products
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It was a great fishing trip. Thanks for inviting us.
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Season closes January 1. Great post Windriver . Curt G.
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[quote curt69]Season closes January 1. Great post Windriver . Curt G.[/quote]

Why is that? Sounds like some great action until then! Nice fish! Awesome post - as has been said. Sleeping on a frozen lake - that takes some gonads! Love the crashed kid shot. Glad he perked up when he woked up.

So - looks like you're using Jawjackers? I just got one of those and am dying to try it.
How do you like 'em? They must be working!