01-19-2005, 04:50 PM
[black][size 5]Conditions At Henrys Lake Still Looking Good For Trout[/size][/black]
HENRYS LAKE - When you're responsible for managing a world class fishery like Henrys Lake, you can't afford to turn your back on things even though the fishing season is closed. Because Henrys Lake Hatchery Manager Damon Keen lives on-site at the Henrys Lake Hatchery, he is able to keep his hand on the pulse of the lake on a daily basis. So far this year, Keen says both the lake and fish are doing well.
Some of the very same factors that have made Henrys such a productive place for trophy trout can also lead to major problems when a variety of negative factors coincide. Henrys Lake is shallow and full of aquatic vegetation, but when the lake freezes over and sunlight cannot penetrate, the vegetation can use up much of the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water.
According to Keen, "Oxygen levels are holding up nicely this year compared to last year. In the areas of the lake we've checked so far we basically have three times the oxygen we had at the same time last year." Keen is also watching the behavior of the fish themselves, "Last year the fish started crowding at the fish ladder at Hatchery Creek in mid-December, so far this year we've seen little activity so far. This means spawning should be right on schedule for next month."
According to Upper Snake Regional Fish Manager Jim Fredericks, "While we didn't see a significant winter kill last year, we did notice a drop in the quality of the eggs taken due to the stress caused by reduced oxygen levels." IDFG will continue to monitor DO levels at various locations across the lake until the ice melts.
Anyone wishing to learn more about conditions at Henrys Lake can contact the Upper Snake Regional Office at 525-7290 or the Henrys Lake Hatchery at 558-7202.
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HENRYS LAKE - When you're responsible for managing a world class fishery like Henrys Lake, you can't afford to turn your back on things even though the fishing season is closed. Because Henrys Lake Hatchery Manager Damon Keen lives on-site at the Henrys Lake Hatchery, he is able to keep his hand on the pulse of the lake on a daily basis. So far this year, Keen says both the lake and fish are doing well.
Some of the very same factors that have made Henrys such a productive place for trophy trout can also lead to major problems when a variety of negative factors coincide. Henrys Lake is shallow and full of aquatic vegetation, but when the lake freezes over and sunlight cannot penetrate, the vegetation can use up much of the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water.
According to Keen, "Oxygen levels are holding up nicely this year compared to last year. In the areas of the lake we've checked so far we basically have three times the oxygen we had at the same time last year." Keen is also watching the behavior of the fish themselves, "Last year the fish started crowding at the fish ladder at Hatchery Creek in mid-December, so far this year we've seen little activity so far. This means spawning should be right on schedule for next month."
According to Upper Snake Regional Fish Manager Jim Fredericks, "While we didn't see a significant winter kill last year, we did notice a drop in the quality of the eggs taken due to the stress caused by reduced oxygen levels." IDFG will continue to monitor DO levels at various locations across the lake until the ice melts.
Anyone wishing to learn more about conditions at Henrys Lake can contact the Upper Snake Regional Office at 525-7290 or the Henrys Lake Hatchery at 558-7202.
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