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Henrys Lake has cooled down to 60 degrees as there was frost on everything up there the last four nights. Yesterday I took eight cuts and two brooks near Staley Springs. Another fisherman in another boat took six cuts, two hybrids and two brook trout near me. Also others had some action in the shallows of the A-frame Bay.
Best flies were the Light Olive Crystal, Canadian Brown and the Mity Mouse. Fishing should continue to improve as the water temperature drops
Mike at the Drift Lodge fishes often and has up-to-date information for you.
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Nice report. Thanks!
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yes. thanks for the report. I'm looking forward to getting up there next month.
humpy
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Thanks for the report. I can't believe I haven't made it up there yet this year. Just too many awesome fishing options in our great state...and the surrounding states...and Yellowstone. 😄 Now with things sounding more encouraging I'll have to go give it a try.
Windriver
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FYI:
Health officials on Wednesday issued a health advisory for Henrys Lake. Water samples confirmed the presence of the blue-green algae species Microsystis, Anabaena and Aphanizomenon — species that can produce potentially dangerous toxins. Officials advised people recreating near Henrys Lake to avoid swallowing or inhaling water.
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I read that eating the fish also is a really bad idea. Those toxins don't break down in water when boiled so raising a fish fillet to 150 degrees certainly won't remove the poison.
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Kifi news said not to let your pets drink from the lake also .
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Has this ever happened at the lake before? I've been in the Tetons for 17 years and I can't recall a water quality warning for toxic cyanobacteria in these parts, not even during those severe drought years back 2001-2005. Is it the heavy bloom that is unusual or that it is toxic this time? Has the lake passed some sort of tipping point of nitrogen and phosphorus contamination? What's up, lake enthusiasts? I know a few of you are on a first name basis with the head biologist at the hatchery. Any info?
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In the news article it said it happens often this time of year ? I can't remember it ever being reported as toxic .
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For questions about blue-green algae, please contact Troy Saffle, Surface Water Manager at the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. He can be reached at (208) 528-2650.
This is from the news article.
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It has happened in the past during the 1980's and 1990's when the lake looked like split pea soup, but it was never declared toxic by the State. It probably was, but it was no big deal. It usually happened when the lake remained near full for several years as it has the last four or five years. Didn't fish it much as the sinking fly lines would float on top of the algae.
Many years the algae stayed on the surface until the lake froze over, making for some very green ice. What will this do to the ice fishing? Don't know - back then the season closed on October 31.
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[quote brownleech]It has happened in the past during the 1980's and 1990's when the lake looked like split pea soup, but it was never declared toxic by the State. It probably was, but it was no big deal. [/quote]
Cyanobacteria blooms are common. Toxic blooms are not as ordinary so those past algal blooms may not have been dominated by a harmful species.
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This is really bad news........ Will the fish be fit to eat by November?
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I fished at the cliffs for about a half hour on Thur. pm, Fri. am and Sat. am. I just fished from the bank with a worm and caught nice fish all 3 days. The first one was 22" and fat. I had to keep it because it was hooked fairly deep. I had a F&G guy come by Fri. and I talked to him about the toxic algae. The water where I was fishing was nice and clear. He said they are taking tests weekly but the only negative results were coming from the County Ramp area since the wind had been blowing that direction. He thinks with the colder weather that the danger is over. He didn't mention any problems with people getting sick. So I cooked it up Monday and we enjoyed a delicious fish feast and everybody is still healthy. The fishing was great for me, but the fly fishermen on the pontoons were fighting the wind. I only saw 1 fish taken on a fly while I was there, which wasn't very long.
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Good news. Thanks.
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how was the moss and weeds?
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Not as bad as I expected, at least where I was. The cool weather has made conditions better. The fish we ate was sooo good. I should have posted pictures but, oh well, too late now. Typical bright orange meat just like the ones we usually get thru the ice.
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