Henry's Lake
HENRY'S LAKE
ReportSEP 30 — OCT 7, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
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Water Temp
—
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Weather
40–68°F
Sunny
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
Henry's Lake is cooling into fall as shorter days and cold nights pull water temps down, pushing fish tight to drop-offs, springs, weed bed edges, and creek mouths. Expect mostly sunny skies with afternoon highs in the upper 60s and overnight lows dipping to around 40°F.
From the ShopBruce Staples · September 30, 2026
The lake is cooling off thanks to fewer daylight hours and colder nights. Not much change in what are the best fly fishing tactics. Concentrate on drop-offs, springs, in front of weed beds, and creek mouths (Duck, Howard, Targhee). Use varying retrieves for streamers, woolly buggers, and leech patterns.
Early in the day to mid-morning still offers the best fishing times before bright mid-day sunlight reduces overhead cover. Cool overcast conditions are common. Boat fishing remains dangerous when winds pick up.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Balanced Leech - Black #14
#14
Balanced Leech - Bruised #10
#10
Svend Diesel's Balanced Bou Leech - Bruised/Hot Orange Bead #14
#14
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14
Egan's Poacher - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Poacher - Black #12
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hot Head Mini Jig Leech - Black #16
#16
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeches | #10–14 | All day, best early morning | Dawn–Mid-Morning |
| Baitfish / Sculpin | #6–8 | Subsurface near drop-offs and weed edges | Early Morning–Mid-Morning |
| Woolly Bugger / Streamer Attractor | #12–14 | Subsurface with varied retrieve near creek mouths | Dawn–10 AM |
Best Time Window
- DAWN TO MID-MORNING (first light–10 AM): Prime window for streamers, woolly buggers, and leech patterns before bright sunlight reduces overhead cover
- OVERCAST PERIODS ANY TIME OF DAY: Cool, cloudy conditions extend the bite — take advantage of cloud cover whenever it appears
Guide's Tip
From the benchWind on Henry's Lake can build quickly and make boat fishing genuinely dangerous — keep a close eye on conditions and get off the water before whitecaps form. If your staffer mentions woolly buggers by name, note that traditional woolly bugger patterns tied locally are also worth having in your box; the Tungsten Jig Bugger is the closest catalog match. Focus your first few hours on the creek mouth areas at Duck, Howard, and Targhee Creeks, then work the drop-offs and spring seeps as the sun climbs.
Main Species
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
