Henry's Lake

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Henry's Lake Conditions

At the end of Summer 2007 conditions on Henry's lake are not too good. The lake is at approximately 80% capacity. Dissolved oxygen has been perilously low during the late summer and early fall due to thick blue-green algal blooms. Monitoring has shown that the risk of winterkill will be elevated this winter. Continued dry conditions with above average temperatures are expected during the winter of 2008. These conditions may set the stage for a significant lowering of the lake level in 2008.

Spawning conditions should be favorable again this spring since the lake level will be higher than some recent years. Adult fish have difficulty accessing spawning tributaries at lower lake levels. With lake levels near full spawning access to tributaries should be good. Combined with improved fish migration above Highway 87 recruitment of wild fish to the fishery should continue to improve. Wild fish abundance has been an important factor in catch rates during the fishing season. Since the late 1980's stocking rates have remained fairly constant. Fish entering the hatchery ladder have been numerous, large, and in good physical condition.

Snow pack in the Henry's Lake watershed was below average in 2007, but it was adequate for decent tributary access spawning. Water temperatures in tributaries were significantly elevated during 2007, possibly effecting survival of emergent fry to return to the lake in late July and August. Conditions below Henry's Lake dam, on the Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch were also poor during 2007 due to low flow and elevated water temperature.

The number of fish planted into Henry's Lake in the past couple years has been down slightly, and survival has been reduced due to oxygen depletion during the summer. This was evidenced by a limited "summer kill" in early September that resulted in the mortality of several thousand fish ranging from young-of-the-year fry to fish over 27 inches. Catch rates have been disappointing to many anglers during 2007 and fall fishing has not materialized during 2007.

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