Idaho Examiner: IT’S STILL WINTER AT HENRYS LAKE, BUT CONDITIONS STILL LOOKING GOOD FOR TROUT"Common Sense News"

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=115126.10000597&type=4&subid=0

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=20738.10000032&type=4&subid=0

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=123504.10000008&type=4&subid=0

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=129915.10000003&subid=0&type=4

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=129320.10000103&type=4&subid=0

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TUUGX/1ZDF0&offerid=50252.10000217&type=4&subid=0

Recreation

IT’S STILL WINTER AT HENRYS LAKE, BUT CONDITIONS STILL LOOKING GOOD FOR TROUT

Posted on: February 16, 2007

HENRYS LAKE – Winter winds are still gusting and it’s over three months until anglers will be able to legally hook a fish, but when you’re responsible for managing a world class fishery like Henrys Lake, you can’t afford to turn your back on things for even a minute. Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) Assistant Hatchery Manager Damon Keen maintains a vigil over the lake and its scaly residents throughout the long, cold Island Park winter.

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, only averaging about 16 feet 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. This winter the ice is about 20 inches thick at Henrys Lake.

According to Keen, “We start taking oxygen readings at the end of December and use an oxygen depletion model to forecast whether or not we will see low oxygen conditions. Due to the readings this winter, aeration was not deployed.” Not only is this good news for the fish and the anglers, it’s also good news for IDFG’s wallet. Operating the aeration system can cost tens of thousands of dollars in electricity costs.

Keen is also watching the behavior of the fish themselves, “The fish ladder will be open for spawn take on March 1st.” According to Keen, “March is the best time to see the fish in the fish ladder.” Visitors to the facility can take advantage of large informational signs posted outside near the fish ladder explaining the operations at the hatchery.

In addition to keeping an eye on oxygen conditions in the lake, fishery biologists have been keeping their ears to the ice as well, or at least figuratively speaking. This year IDFG, in cooperation with the Henrys Lake Foundation, has outfitted 43 trout with radio tags to help track seasonal movements of the fish. Weekly observation of the fish has basically shown that the trout make use of the entire lake throughout the winter, but do tend to favor areas along the shoreline. The tracking project will be ongoing to help provide an idea about spawning activity.

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.

Your Comments

Commenting is closed for this article.

Click here to go to Recreation Archives

Top Story

Bond Election Moves Forward for February 5 Vote

The Pocatello City Council joined Chubbuck in approving a special election for a bond renovating Idaho State University's Holt Arena.Explore Entire Article