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I just read in today's Post Register that the lake next year may be open till December 31st if they can get approval. Here is a quote from the paper:
"Regional fisheries biologists recently sent the proposal to the state office for review. If the state staff accepts the proposal, it will be forwarded to the Fish and Game Commission for a vote on either Nov. 18 or Nov. 19."
From things I have seen seems like people are catching less 10+ pound fish there the last few years. Now they want to add even more time for ice fishing? What do others think of this and has the # of really big fish seen the last few years seem to decline to you? Maybe it is just me who knows?
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Absolutely there are NOT as many big fish. I have made a point to let Damon know this also.
But, all lakes go through cycles, and he thinks that is the case.
I vote to leave the lake alone, but it is all about the $.
I just hate to see the old try and error thing. The Ooops, shouldn't have done that and the fact it makes people even more mad when you take things back...(Utah Rivers is a good example)
\
The thing that needs to be addressed is "What advantage is there to opening it longer?"
I don't see any. Di  vantage, more poaching and more garbage.
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I would like to fish it through the ice till the end of december! But it is a double edged sword cause then the big fish can get depleted. I think a idea to think about would be to have like a draw for a certain number of permits like they do for hunting. keep it open but issue say 100 permits with only a 1 fish limit and put a size restriction or something like that on it. Its only an idea but i am curious of anyone elses ideas!
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Great idea, plus the extra revenue. That could be a win, win situation.
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I am worried since Damon and Dan Garren are backing the proposal there is probably a very good chance it will be accepted by the Wildlife Commission I suspect. Do you know if Lynn and Bill are also seeing less 10+ pound fish since they changed the closing date to November 31st? They spend a lot of time there so they would have best info. Not sure on the cycle thing, it has been quite awhile since there was any winterkill there so I don't know if I buy that one.
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I sent a message to Lynn to check your post out, lets see if he shows up. Pretty busy in WYOMING!!![laugh][laugh] These days.
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Not to busy in Wyoming 
Well I don't like the proposed changes. I would like to think that "if it's not broke why fix it". I feel this way about Henrys. It's been a quality trophy fishery for years under previous rules. We have not seen the big fish this year like as in years past. However, hard to say why and like Joni stated lakes go thru changes that are unexplained. However, alot of folks when they catch a big fish they take it home be it soft water or ice fishing. It's too bad because I believe most end up in the freezers with freezer rot and wasted. I have no issue with someone wanting a trophy mount to remember there fish. Most taxidermist can do the replica with measurements and some photos. So why kill the fish---let someone experience it.
I feel even more sore about the abuses that go on at the County and State boat docks. That gets me more riled than the late ice fishing limits. I think they ought to make it a restricted area for kids with supervision and the elderly. I see these fish pounded day in and day out.
As I understand it they are looking to extend the ending date to end of December and possibly even into end of Jan. I think it's a done deal actually and only a formality to get it signed in Boise. I believe Dan Garrin and Damen are watching it closely and do not want to see the fishery damaged. Dan made it clear that if it impacts the fishery in a negative way they will make the recommendations to protect the fishery. They have gave me no reasons to doubt this. I still don't like it but do trust them if that makes sense. One of the compromises that is on the table will be. If the mortality rate of fish taken during the ice fishing season is 5,000 fish for example the F&G will augment thier plants to the same ratio so that numbers will remain consistant with current numbers. If my memory serves me correctly this will be done with Hybrids. My vote would be Hybrids and Brook trout as those will be mostly likely the ones impacted in a negative way.
I have no control over any of it. I don't like it over all. I do like the compromise if the rules are changed. I still hate the dock slaughter fest that goes on. We will wait and see how it plays out. I trust Dan and Dammon to take care of the fishery.
Just opinons and my two cents and not meant to battle the issues with anyone.
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I haven't heard of as many 10+ lb fish in there this year.
I don't know if that has anything to do with ice fishing.
If the opportunity is opened up I will take advantage of the extra time on Henrys. I think the big fish could be cherry picked out given enough time.
The fact of it is most ice fishermen are not that successful on Henrys because they are not willing to do what it takes to catch them there.
Windriver
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Thanks for the insight Lynn and your thoughts on this. I guess it wasn't just me that seemed to not be seeing the huge fish as regularly there. I totally agree something needs to be done on the boat dock areas with combat fishing in the spring and fall. From what I have seen there is very little enforcement ever when I have been there. I also found it odd the boat wash station would wash an out of state boat and allow it on the lake with no invasive sticker? Yes none whatsoever. Evidently since the county does the wash they don't pay any attention to if there is an invasive sticker on or not since you get it from the State [frown]
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I know there is a lot of food in Henry's for the fish , but I think they are over planting it . There is only so much to go around and when there are millions of small fish eating everything they see that has to cut dowm on a few meals for the bigger ones . Also they have stated over and over again 90% of the fish there die of old age , What a waste . Just my 2 cents Curt G.
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I have to say that extending the season will not make much difference. The amount of people that will be up there will be nothing like open water since the weather is very unpredictable during the winter. If F&G does add more fish per planting to make up the difference from the extended season, then I can not see anything that will change.
It seems like people are trying to say the fish are smaller this year and that the extended season is the reason, or soon will be their reason. I really doubt the extended season has anything to do with the size of the fish. I would bet that water temps, warm seasons, water levels, available food and the slaughter at the docks is what is causing the smaller fish. There are many cycles and everything has to line up just right for fish to get big.
I am not yet ready to jump on the band wagon saying the extended season will be the death of Henry's. I will say that the slaughter at the docks and lack of county and state patrols and enforcing of rules is the main reason for the decline with the warm weather/lack of rain coming in second. The things I have seen go on up there and the other things I read about here on the forum are unreal. It is quite bad when people break the rules and you see them do it, but it is even worse when you have proof and confront officers along with F&G and they blow you off and allow the rule breaking to continue. If it was me, those officers would be looking for a new job.
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Right you are PRVRT. The Algae bloom a few years back killed a lot of fish. That was around 2007...three years ago. That would be the big fish today.
Drought also.
To add to that, the stats are a little old...
I do not see how extending the season can HELP (again trash and poaching)
But, they are Hell bent on trying it every year so it is inevitable.
Curt69, I don't think it will make a big difference either, but, like LYNN said, it ain't broke, so don't *&%$ with it (my addition Lynn[  ]). It is a gamble at the least and makes no sense to me.
It can't help and hopefully it wont hurt?????[crazy] Makes no sense, but that is progress.
Besides, fish are getting bigger because of regs here in Utah, might save that $120. for 2011[ ] Probably not....LOL
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I would like to believe that Damon and his crew know what they are talking about and I have no doubts that they have the lake's best interest in mind.
With that being said, I would really like to see the lake open a little later so those of us who fish it almost exclusively through the ice have a chance to fish when the ice is safe. My family I have fished there through the ice since they extended the season and I can count on two fingers the number of fish we have taken home out of the hundreds we have caught. I get a little tired with the slippery slope arguement that some people propogate on this site that keeping the season open is going to decimate the fishery. One year of extreme oxygen depletion would do 100X the damage that all the ice fisherman could think about doing.
Enough ranting.....I hope I have not offended anyone...Just wanted to put in my two cents.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that I honestly don't think it is going to freeze this year due to the current weather pattern, so there may be nothing to worry about anyway!
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I guess they didn't like my idea for flathead catfish there. [fishin]
Ron
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I don't like the idea of keeping it open any longer than it is now.
I'd like to see them open later in June allowing some of those fish to move out of the shallows into deeper water.
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[quote southforksly]I would really like to see the lake open a little later so those of us who fish it almost exclusively through the ice have a chance to fish when the ice is safe. My family I have fished there through the ice since they extended the season and I can count on two fingers the number of fish we have taken home out of the hundreds we have caught. I get a little tired with the slippery slope arguement that some people propogate on this site that keeping the season open is going to decimate the fishery. One year of extreme oxygen depletion would do 100X the damage that all the ice fisherman could think about doing.
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You have a going stand there and I know many others feel the same about a little safer ice.
I don't think ice fishing will deplete the stock, but you find that nice little pool and as "you" said, you caught many fish. The same is true for the early season shore fishers. I agree to open in June.
As far as the oxygen, well, not much can do about evolution or mother nature.
The lake has been a tourist trap for many years and held it's own.
I too hope Damon and Dan know what they are doing. But I would like to know why.
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Why not keep it open year 'round.
That way there is no opening weekend,no mass slaughter,no mass dock fishing.
It works for other fisheries,why not this one.
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[quote mojorizing]Why not keep it open year 'round.
That way there is no opening weekend,no mass slaughter,no mass dock fishing.
It works for other fisheries,why not this one.[/quote]
There will still be a mass slaughter from April to late May. Actually more big fish will be killed with a year round season.
You'll just be starting it earlier.There's no way around it. Those bigger fish are too vulnerable after ice out in tight.
Open it mid to late June and and give them the additional three weeks into November if need be.
I think that would be better
The Lake has been doing well for all these years as is. I hate it when F$G tries to fix things.
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Flygoddess-
The "secret" we have found for Henry's is not necessarily finding "pools" of fish but the key lies in being quiet. We have found that if you fish in a large groups, make a lot of noise, and trapse around the ice (we do have kids) it slows the catch rate significantly. But if you get away from the crowds and stay in a chair with your eyes on your Vexilar, you are going to catch more fish. We dont catch huge fish (7+ lbs) but we do catch plenty. BTW thanks for your open mindedness!
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Only having fished Henrys for a few years and two years for ice fishing, I am completely happy with the extended season. In my experience, the best ice fishing is before the crowds come, which is on 2 inches of ice, early in the morning, which most people come out too late due to the drive, and in shallow water, which most people are too loud to fish effectively. Most ice fishermen seemed to only do OK while I have been there and the ones that do well are the hardcores who let the big ones go.
Ice fishing in December will be much colder, harder and less effective. I don't think it will affect the overall health of the fishery. But I do believe allowing the dock slaughters do, It hurts the existing fish, who are spawners, who won't spawn as successfully being fatigued and harassed for weeks before spawning.
Even though I don't think they will delay the opening as the memorial day tradition to Henrys for many families/fishermen will prevent that. But they sure could close off fishing in spawning areas to fishing, at least during the months of the spawn in the Spring and Fall. I think allowing ice fishing until January 31st even, but closing the spawning areas down to fishing would be a great compromise.
Remember that ice fishing in 6 ft of water when the fish start getting lethargic isn't the easiest thing to do. I really don't think ice fishing will hurt the fishery.
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