I have been interested in fishing Henry's Lake for some time. My wife and I decided this is the year to try it. I have been following the board and am dumbfounded at the interest in that lake. Is this normal? Anywho, we plan on leaving Salt Lake, Sunday evening and driving up to stay at the lodge for a couple of days. We plan on fishing Monday and Tuesday and returning home home on Wednesday. Since we have not been there before, we are seeking some advise as to where to fish, how deep of water, and what are the regulations for that lake? Is taking an ATV or Snowmobile of any advantage? We have ice tents, heaters, augers and all the goodies, including vexilar fish finders. I understand the potential for catching a big one is good. My wife has never caught anything bigger than 21 inches in length. We are hoping to change that. Any suggestions or advise is welcome.
Thanks in advance
kj
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The lake very popular as you have noticed since they extended the season from Oct 31 to Nov 30 then to Jan 1st . It is the first lake to get ice around here. The deepest spot I have found is 24' but most is around 16' with deeper areas . Most people ice fish in 6 to 15' near the shore lines. There was open water in the middle last weekend. There is not much access to the lake due to it being surrounded by private property-farm/ranch and then cabins. Access on the west at the Fremont County Frome park, NW corner at Jareds Wild Rose Ranch(I think), East - Henrys Lake State Park , South Just west of the campground ,drive down to the west end of the cliffs on a dirt road. ATV or snowmobile will help but it has been cold then above freezing for a few days so the ice conditions have been up and down. There are suppose to be some springs in the lake so drive around the shoreline. Most of the fishing so far has been around the State Park but as gets colder more will be on the west side of the lake. Try to stay farther away from others if it is shallow. No size or species limit, Limit of 2 fish and must stop when you have kept your 2 . I watched twice as people got cited for it. This year in 70 fish I saw 1 20" long Hybrid and a 17 1/2" Brookie but broke 2 good size ones off right after hook up. I have caught more this year but they seem to be a little smaller than last year. Good luck
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You can also get a lot of information by searching or scrolling back on here to last December's posts about the ice fishing there. There is lots of information on here, and also a bunch on the regular internet. I know that Wild Rose has some good maps and info.
http://www.wildroseranch.com/interest/henrys_lake.htm
Good luck!
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Most years I would say your wife has the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime. This year the really big fish are hard to find. There just are not as many as there have been in the past for whatever reason. I would be careful with an atv or snowmobile because places that are usually frozen by now still don't have good ice. If you don't know where the springs are be especially careful. There has been lots of good advice already given. The vex is good in the deeper water. Where I have been fishing the water is so shallow it was useless. Sounds like a great trip. I hope you get into them.
Windriver
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[quote windriver]I would be careful with an atv or snowmobile because places that are usually frozen by now still don't have good ice. If you don't know where the springs are be especially careful. There has been lots of good advice already given. The vex is good in the deeper water. Where I have been fishing the water is so shallow it was useless. Sounds like a great trip. I hope you get into them.
Windriver[/quote]
I agree with all of the above. Be careful and have fun. I'd be especially interested in your report as I will be arriving just as you are leaving.
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[quote cpierce]You can also get a lot of information by searching or scrolling back on here to last December's posts about the ice fishing there. There is lots of information on here, and also a bunch on the regular internet. I know that Wild Rose has some good maps and info.
[url "http://www.wildroseranch.com/interest/henrys_lake.htm"]http://www.wildroseranch.com/...rest/henrys_lake.htm[/url]
Good luck![/quote]
That link and map helps a lot as next week will be my first time fishing it also [cool] Thanks
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You COULD get the fish of a life time. As Wind said they are far and few, but it works both ways.
Back when the fish were reported bigger, they were also far and few. Many people got skunked.
I would say your chances of getting skunk are next to 0 now. There are too many fish with the stocking and the unexpected release of the naturals, so please keep a limit.
There are some big ones but, I will say, even the 18" and 19" can straighten hooks.
That is what I love about H. You walk away with a sore arm. Maybe not from that one 30+" but from a bunch of 20+"ers.
You will be hooked....guaranteed.
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Thanks for the info everyone. The shallowness of the lake surprises me. I generally like to fish in 20 ft of water, but this early in the season, I will take what we can get. Nothing is frozen here in Utah yet... except the high Uinta Mtn lakes. I fish Strawberry a lot and generally the fish are 20 inches pretty consistantly. We have a slot size for the cutts, anything 15 to 22 inches gets turned back. Last year I caught my first one over the slott, a 25 inch cutt. I got my wife sold (hooked) on the ice fishing 2 years ago. As long as we have the tent up and the heater running, she is good to go. We will probably forgo the atv and snowmobile unless a lot of snow falls between now and Sunday evening. I will post the results of the trip next Wednesday.
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