Henry's report

[Belasko]

Made it up to Henry's with a buddy today. Arrived at the state park ramp around 8 a.m. Completely calm water with barely a hint of a breeze. Got the float tubes inflated and selected our sticks of choice. My buddy used his fly rod with a wooly bugger. I took my spinning rod with a gold kastmaster with holographic tape. After an issue standing in water with fins on (thank god it was very shallow) kicked off and headed straight out from the point. My buddy landed first fish with two minutes twenty feet from where he put in. I managed one about ten minutes later. From there we stayed mostly in the state park Bay Area. We caught many fish, all cuts from 14.5" to 19.5". Most were caught straight out from the point and ramp area. Sometimes close, others a ways out but most were in that corridor. Would usually hook up 2-3 in quick succession then go a while with nothing or a few short hits that couldn't hook up. Even hooked one towards the end that initially felt like a snag then started to bounce but not come in. After about fifteen seconds it broke me off! Wish I'd gotten it in. Final count was 25 landed and probly that many lost or missed strikes. Some fish were also catching on midges under a strike indicator from shore or in shallow water. Weather was incredible all day.
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[photobill]

Thanks for the report. I think I need to get over there.
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[curt69]

Me and my wife fished off the bank today . I landed 5 and my wife only 1 . Hers was a nice 4 pound hybrid .
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[Belasko]

Nice. I think I'm going to try taking the kid up tomorrow. Were there big crowds today?
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[curt69]

Yes there were more people than I have seen in a long time .
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[curt69]

Most of the fish caught by us and the people around us were brookies . Seen a 18 " one caught right next to us .
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[Belasko]

Thanks for the update. I'm hoping that by waiting for Sunday it'll be fewer people.
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[kentd71]

My brother in law fished Saturday for two hours and caught 13 . I think the were trolling around the state park bay. No brookies
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[Belasko]

Went out with my son yesterday. Must have been at least a dozen boats/pontoons in the state park bay. Plus close to that many people on shore. Then there were the hundreds of fish near the shore. However most weren't too interested in biting. Even fly fishermen using scuds under a strike indicator were snagging inadvertently more than getting bit. I don't think most the people were trying to snag and I saw most fish released. One group I wondered but couldn't say for sure they were keeping snagged fish so I never called F&G on it. As for our luck I found using kastmasters slowly retrieved, just keeping it off bottom would elicit the occasional strike with few snags that really hooked the fish. Even then my son managed to snag the eye of a nymph that was the upper fly on a dropper setup that the other fly had snagged the fish. Was really glad I crimped our barbs though. In the end we landed around a dozen fish. About half were in the mouth. We did keep two for dinner that were very pink and tasty.
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[flygoddess]

Beautiful cutts! I have never heard of snagging when fishing under an indy, interesting.
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[Belasko]

My best guess is that there were so many that when they either brushed against it or over it would pull down the indicator so people would lift to set the hook = snagged fish. Almost snagged one on a zebra midge just reeling in to try a new spot. Only got a single scale though.
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[cpierce]

If using two flies it seems that I will sometimes snag on the second fly. I think when they strike on the first fly and manage to spit it, then when I strike, the second fly may hit them.

Haven't had it happen with an indicator, but I could see it happening if a bunch of fish are in the zone when a strike is missed. Also if the flies are close together, the second may hit the fish that struck the first fly.
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[hooknhunter]

I've "snagged" fish when using an indy several times. Most often on a 2 fly rig and on the bottom fly. BUT, I've also snagged fish on a single fly rig when a fish grabs the indy in it's mouth. I've had fish grab my indy so many times that I started putting a hook in it.
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[flygoddess]

[quote hooknhunter]I've "snagged" fish when using an indy several times. Most often on a 2 fly rig and on the bottom fly. BUT, I've also snagged fish on a single fly rig when a fish grabs the indy in it's mouth. I've had fish grab my indy so many times that I started putting a hook in it.[/quote]

It is now called a DRY...LOL
I can understand snagging on bottom hook and specially in moving water or if the fly is move as in trolling or stripping line. Just saying I have never snagged a fish when I deep nymph (and I do that a lot). Anything is possible. Thanks.

Sounds like fish are really piled up. Great chance for anyone to get a Henry's Trout.
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[curt69]

The only place I have seen them stacked up is the State Park , and it is getting hammered . Amost all Cutthroughts because that is where they plant them .
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[Bmarsh]

When they are stacked up like that and cruising i have had the best success with a size 16 renegade fished dry and if it sinks stripped back in. Have had them hit it both ways.
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[flygoddess]

Absolutely. Brookies LOVE the Renegade. But I fish it with at Least an intermediate or Type II. But in all honesty if they are stacked up to the point of snagging anything should work including a bare hook.[]
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[Bmarsh]

Thats why I was more inclined to fish it wet to avoid the snagging. After watching guys snagging kokes about every 3rd "strike" on the indicator when they are really trying to hook them legit I can def. see how when you get a thick school of fish like they get at the state dock this time of year how people are unintentionally snagging a few.
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