B.S. you are my HERO!

[flygoddess]

Got back this afternoon from Henry's Lake. Water temp was in the higher 50's. The lake is turning over right now so very murky and ALOT of vegies in the water, weed were high. Hot afternoons with Friday being down right windy, a breeze on Sat. and calm on Sunday.
I use P-LINE 6lb. flourocarbon on each and every fish below and either a Type II or Intermediate line. The fly choice was A modified Purple Showgirl with black foam across the back instead of marabou, a black and burnt orange softhackle,a black and orange bead head Hazbro (marabou nymph) and of course the HOT CHOCOLATE.
Total take for the weekend (about 3 1/2 to 4 hours Saturday and Sunday) was 10 fish.
The brother in law got lucky coming in on friday from being blown off the lake with this bad boy.

Reports weren't good on the fishing, but Saturday morning, headed for Staleys. Slight breeze (sweat shirt weather) I hooked into 5 fish from 18 to............
Here is some of the nice fish:




Well, I am not sure on exact weight length or girth, but I swear he was in the 20lb range. I am 5'8" tall so you take a guess at it!.......




And of course, release WHAT WAS I THINKING!
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[Aluma165]

Thanks for the great report and pics, Flygoddess. I'm headed over next month for 10 - 15 days. I always stop by the Ashton I.R. store for Bill's latest patterns and the scoop on the lake. I'll be trolling with non-leadcore for the first time. I've shore fished in the past with moderate success throwing spinners out as far as I can throw or casting flies right at the shoreline in the evening. My luck has been mostly 3 lbers. and nothing over five but all beautiful healthy fish.
Always grill a few of the 19 - 20"ers over the course of the trip. Superb trailer-side cuisine.
We day-trip into Yellowstone and take the Ashton loop. The hike at the state park is always beautiful with the golden leaves. Does anyone have other suggestions for mid-day trips?
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[bsflies]

Aluma 165,

A great day trip in late September and early October is a trip to Red Rock Lakes when the trumpeter swan migrate south. From 500 to 700 of those beautiful birds come through and spend a few days at Red Rocks.

Good Luck,

Bill
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[flygoddess]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]We usually hit every year Mesa Falls (upper and Lower) don't know why we didn't this year. I would love to try hiking down and fishing the river right there. Fish have got to be huge to live in that.[/size][/black][/font]
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[hpb]

Yoa- nice fish!
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[BrianID]

Thank you for sharing the pictures. For most people that would be a fish of a lifetime but for you it is probably just your best fish of the year or month. Looks like the weather was nice too (at least when the pictures were taken).

I don't have much spare time this fall so I probably won't make it to Henry's until next year. I'll spend most of my free time for the next 3 months hunting/scouting instead of fishing.

If I had to guess I would say it is 29"-30" long but I could be off by an inch or more. That is a hawg of a hybrid.
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[Aluma165]

Thanks Bill and Flygoddess. We'll plan hopefully to do both trips. Plenty of days usually with not enough to do once we've hit all the sights in Yellowstone. Those pics are awesome. Hope I get into at least one big fish this year but either way Henrys is the highlight of my fall season.
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[flygoddess]

Brian, Hunting's good![laugh] Thanks on the fish, the weather was nice. A little too warm still and we have one of those trailers that the beds fold out and we even ended up sleeping on top of the covers. Friday was cool and very windy, Saturday a little warmer and slight breeze, Sunday calm and hot!
The fish as near as we have come up with (Ruler and hand placement) was around 32" to 34" and I swear it was 17+ lbs. Pretty good judge on lifting weight to a couple of pounds. Like I said I am 5'8" and have very long arms.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing that 8 point buck[].
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[idahopanfish]

Thankyou for the pic's! They are very encouraging! I hope I can get up there this Oct or even Nov again.
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[EZOP]

Fantastic report and fish, the wife (POZE) and I really enjoyed it.
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[Bigcat]

Amazing fish!!!!!! How bout some details!!!! We need to live the moment through you since most of us will never catch a fish that big!! How long did it take to land and how far did you get into your backing??? We need details!!!!!!
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[flygoddess]

Notice the trend......That's right I like yellow hats

This one same time 2005 this one 2006
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We were out about 200 yrds from Staley's Spring. Water temp around 59 to 61 very warm. I guess the fishing was slow for most, but Pokymon and my self caught 10 in about 6 to 8 hours (total time in a two day span)
I started off using a TYPE II line with my "Y" connection and a modified Purple Showgirl (tied on a #12 scud hook with purple chenille, black marabou tail and a black closed cell foam back so it would float a little) on the long tippet and a Halloween Hasbro (#12 to #14 nymph hook with gold tungsten bead and rib, burnt orange and black marabou tied in for tail then twisted and wrapped up the hook). Caught about 3 on this set up from about 9:00 a.m. to 11.30a.m.
Next I switched to an intermediate line with the "Y" connection tippet and had a Gartside Softhackle - black and burnt orange and a gold cone head size 4 on the long tippet and a HOT CHOCOLATE on the short tippet. Both big fish hit the Hot Chocolate. This was around 11:45 a.m. Saturday with a breeze. I caught a couple more on the HC for that day. Sunday about the same time slot. Same set up.
Caught 5 fish Sunday with NO breeze and hot. Had a Pelican chase a fish on my line and I had to keep slapping the side of my boat to chase him off so I could land the fish. I had all sorts of pictures going through my mind on that one. A protected bird flying away with my fish and my fly in it's mouth on a 6lb tippet........Hmmmmm what to do. Thank god it didn't happen and fish was returned safe to water.
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[flygoddess]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Here is a picture of the four flies I used and they all produced. But, the Hot Chocolate was the money maker:[/size][/black][/font]
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[acey]

Nice pictures. I am jealous. I (my wife) made up a batch of fresh salsa if you still want to trade for some flies. I think I can smuggle some out of the house. She thinks I am crazy for trading salsa with TubeDude several times for his jigs and lures. She is a good sport about it. Acey
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[windriver]

Thanks for sharing the info and flies. I really like the foam idea. I will try it on several flies. I have not been lucky enough to get into the really big boys, but I am going out for a couple of days in early Oct. so the day will come if I keep learning and putting in my time.
Maybe...

Thanks for sharing
Windriver
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[flygoddess]

Mmmmm, what kinda flies do you want?
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[idahopanfish]

So FG how do you do your "Y" conection?

Thanks
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[flygoddess]

I have a loop in my fly line, then I take 5 to 8 feet of P-Line flouro. Fold it in half with one side longer than the other by at least a foot. Tie a loop in the bend, connect it to my fly line. I always put the bigg fly on the longer side so it looks like it is chasing the smaller.

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[idahopanfish]

Hey that's cool. I will have to try that. I have always tied a leader on to the hook up front and then trailed it behind.
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[Hellsangler69]

Congrats flygoddess . What a sweet fish . I haven't been to Henry's Lake in about 10 years now . Time to start saving my pennies .
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