Where do I start with the Henry’s Fork! The Henry’s Fork River is like four different rivers combined. Look at it like this:
From Henry’s Lake Outlet to Island Park Resevoir, you have the fishing style and feel of a creek. Slow flats with some rising fish activity, moving down to deep undercut banks as you move toward the confluence with Big Springs water, and flowing South through Coffee Pot Rapids before flattening back out and dumping into Island Park Resevoir. Fishing can be good in those “upper” stretches of the river, but the majority of the well known trophy trout fishing is from Island Park Resevoir down.
This Rainbow was stuck on a leech pattern streamer in the Box Canyon located in the center of Island Park, ID. The Box Canyon is the stretch of the Henry’s Fork below the Island Park dam. This stretch is faster moving and full of trenches and lava rock. This fishes best if attacked like pocket water, concentrating on one small area at a time. The canyon is predominantly a nymph fishery with some great dry fly opportunities during the Stonefly hatches. Streamers of different styles and colors also work well, especially in overcast and foul weather.
The Box Canyon opens up into Last Chance (South Island Park) and the river flows into the Harriman Ranch. This stretch of the river holds the most challenging fish in Island Park, if not some of the toughest fish in the country. The “Ranch” fishes like a classic Spring Creek with relatively shallow clear water and a lot of bugs for the fish to choose from. Finding fish, watching hatch activity, picking flies accordingly, and presenting great drifts in a fish’s feeding lane are usually critical steps to hooking fish on the Ranch.
Warm River to Ashton Brown
This fish was caught just south of Island Park on the Warm River to Ashton stretch of the Henry’s Fork. This stretch of river is the last before reaching the Ashton Resevoir. Fishing throughout the year is possible on this stretch given its water volume, cool temperatures due to the cold water of the Warm River and Robinson Creek, and hatches of insects throughout the seasons. When times are tough late in the summer, nymphs and terrestrials will bring fish to a fly.
Dry Fly Rainbow
Jason Gillette holding a big Lower River Rainbow
The “Lower River” fishes all year, but best in the spring/mid summer and again in the fall. These stretches of the Henry’s Fork boast big hatches of PMD’s, Fav’s, Green Drakes, and Gray Drakes throughout the months of June and early July. Early spring and mid to late fall will bring Baetis (BWO’s) to the water. The fish will feed on the nymphs as well as the adults depending on the weather. Again….never be afraid to strip a streamer.
