henrys help

[randylh7]

well I'm going to hit henrys for the opener for the first time but I'm not sure on where I can get access. I would like to fish either near the hatchery or the rose area but also up for any other suggestions (I will be fly fishing from the bank) and then my next question is what flys to use under a indicator and for stripping and which method is best any info would be appreciated
thanks rh
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[FlyFishng_Fool]

If you take waders you can go over on the county boat dock area and fight with the crowds. A Zebra midge just dead drift below an indicator is always a good bet. Black strip leeches work as well. You can even go to the side of the main crowd and still get a few. Should be fish for everyone. Usually it is pretty good.[cool]
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[Bmarsh]

Im in the same boat. Never fished henrys, never fly fished on a lake, and I rarely fish anything but drys. So Im going to be doing a lot of first sat morning. Figuring I can find some thing to catch em on. Have a lot of streamers that imitate bait fish, woolly buggers, and a few midges. Hope something will entice a trout or 2 to hand. Ill be watching this thread closely so any advice a few of you have would be appreciated.
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[flygoddess]

You might want to try Scuds, Chironomids, and leeches. Also, have a sinking line like a Type II, III or Intermediate. Black/Orange, Olives, Black/Purple......
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[mikkfin80]

I have had luck with egg patterns this time of year also. If you want to get away from the crowds a little you could try by the cliffs on the south side of the lake. Probably still a few people but not quite as bad as the hatchery or docks. Not sure if the fish will be stacked up as much but I have seen people catching fish over there on the opener on the fly in years past.
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[EddieFish]

New snow today at Henry's! 1 to 2 inches by 2pm Thursday with more on the way tonight. Looks to stay much the same for the weekend. Bring your rain gear and long johns!
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[SkunkedAgain]

The west side by the county boat docks seems to have a longer shallow slope of the three locations and the cliffs gets deep fast. FG if he is wading without a tube do you think he will have room for much of a back cast at the cliffs? I'm a novice at fly fishing but it seems like the cliffs might be a harder spot to fish but I agree it can be better fishing with a reduced crowd. Depending on wind I may be there myself but I'll probably be in a boat dragging hardware. Good luck
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[mikkfin80]

Not suggesting to fish right off the cliffs. There is some shore line on that side of the lake that you could fly fish from the bank that is a fairly gradual slope. And again don't know how good it would be I just figured there would be less people over there.
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[Bmarsh]

Was wondering about that, if a guy could still do decent by getting away from the hatchery and boat docks. Maybe hit where some of the creeks come in?
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[flygoddess]

Like Mikk said, the shore line past the Cliffs could be good. Over in that corner is where I caught a lot of Brookies. It is a gradual slope, but the fish could be holding in shallower for the warmth. I know I launched there once and had a tank hit in about 8' of water off the shore. And it could be very wade able, but always try fishing nright in front of you before moving out. How many have walked out in water and been startled by fish swimming around their feet? You can catch those too, if you fish close, and then move out. If you try out first, you spook everything in between. Just a thought.

The Cliffs could be awesome because, like he said it drops off and a lot of traffic. BUT, no back cast. You would need to be very comfortable with a roll cast.
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[windriver]

Last year they were hitting a olive crystal bugger with no tail. I would stay away from the streamers. I'm not saying they won't hit them, I just think the smaller stuff would be better. I was using a size 8-10 last year.

Windriver
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[lone_wolf]

Just get ready for tons of people to deal with at any of the public access points this weekend. Hopefully the F&G have some enforcement out there watching closely.
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[curt69]

We have more eyes than fish and game and most of us carry phones that take pictures . Don't be afraid to use them . If you see someone pack three fish up to there car start taking pictures . Curt G.
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[idahoron]

Just take a barking dog, a boom box with some Charlie Daniels playing full blast, and don't forget a couple of crying kids screaming their heads off. That way if you take them you don't have to deal with someone else's annoying stuff.[cool]
Well I am kind of kidding. Sort of.
Henry's will be a circus for sure three rings and an elephant. There will be people poaching more than their limit that is a fact. There will be people butchering fish and throwing the carcasses back into the water. There will be HUGE family's that are catching and eating them as fast as they can. There will be loads of kids on ATV's and motorcycles running all over. There will be people trying to squeeze into a spot between you and the place your fishing. In all opening day for me at Henry's was an event I will never forget. When you have HUGE fish two feet from the bank people go nuts. Like others said if you see someone catching and keeping more than two fish blow the whistle. My phone did't work there when I was there check to see if yours does. Everyone wants to go to henry's on opening day at least once. Usually once is all it takes to cure that. Ron
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[randylh7]

Thanks everyone for the info sounds like it atleast will be a crazy adventure
I still have one question if I was going to go to the hatchery area in the morning in the dark where does one park.
I have no knowledge of the lake and am not sure where the access is expecially in the dark I usally just drive by henrys on my way to montana for the opener but I figure I need to try this atleast once.
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[ironrod]

There is parking right there at the hatchery-you'll know where when you pull in. You can either walk down hatchery road from there or go a little east by F & G cabin and walk on the grass/snow down to the water. Just make sure you fish "outside" the bouys-last yr multiple times fisherman would start fishing in the close areas then someone / F & G would point out where they were....good luck![sly]
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[curt69]

It will be legal to fish at 1201 am Saturday . Get there early and dress for the weather . The parking will go fast . Curt G.
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[flygoddess]

You guys are definitely crazy! But as mentioned, everyone needs to try opener[crazy]. (not really). I did try opener once many, many years ago. Crowds were not bad but freezing and 4 foot waves, plus snow told me to go later. Plus I have never heard of the big fish bring caught at opener. A lot of fish are caught I guess though, but to me normal size fish. Great for some people. Good luck all, just stay safe, warm and hydrated.
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[thebug]

another way to get rid of obnoxious people i found on strike fishing below the dam when this group of guys was trying to push me out of my spot by castign over my sturgeon lines. they even went so far as to cut my line. I was with a buddy of mine who has three little kds and a really good sound system in his car. So he threw in a barney the dinosaur CD and cranked it up. they lasted 20 min and we cleared out half of the park
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