We will not be deterred!
As many of you now know, the fishing season at Henrys Lake is now year-round. While this is somewhat disappointing, we want you all to know that our efforts to protect and preserve the fishery continue. We have been at this since 1982 and the combined project man hours and monetary non-profit contributions has and will go on undeterred. The IDFG will continue to make fishery management discussions that make it difficult for our members to understand, but they are the fishery biologists. They rely upon facts that are based upon empirical data. That data and their statistical extrapolations drive their decisions. The most critical of which is that a season extension does not portend any ill effects.
There has also been a significant misnomer in that the foundation does not support non-flyfishers. Nothing can be further from the truth. We welcome all forms of fishing, even ice fishing. Yes, as difficult as that may to agree with, we are an inclusive organization. What we simply ask is that the fishery is respected. We are disappointed when we hear of or see first-hand poaching, ice anglers chumming, or fish being dragged onto the shore and then kicked back into the water. We just want everyone to have the same level of love that we have for this incredible fishery. Many of our members have fished the lake for over 50 years. Their knowledge and comments to us do show a continually changing fishery over those years. There are obviously many factors that contribute to those changes, some positive, some negative.
As we move forward, our project focus will continue to be on protecting the native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout. These native fish are becoming fewer and fewer. In the past couple of years, genetic testing has become much less costly, enough such that the IDFG biologists can effectively measure the existence and quantity of native spawners in the tributaries. This gives us a great starting point for a very large project that will take years to come to fruition. Although only in its conceptual stage, the idea is to find and isolate native spawners and raise their fry separate from the non-native spawners, especially those that come into the hatchery. In all likelihood, those fish are hatchery fish and non-native. The native fry could then be re-planted back into the tributaries to continue their nursery development and subsequent migration back into the lake. Admittedly, this is a grand vision, but it should give you, our members, a strong indication of our continued commitment.
The picture below is one of my favorite cutties, one that has very few spots. I believe these are the more genetically pure Yellowstone Cutthroats but I will let the biologists debate that.
So, when you catch that next fish at Henrys be it a Brookie, Hybrid or Cuttie, think of us, consider a contribution of either time or monies.
Tight lines,
Phil Barker
HLF Director
