Fishing The Henrys Fork - Box Canyon

Home
>
Fishing
>
Fishing The Henrys Fork - Box Canyon

Fishing The Henrys Fork - Box Canyon

It is easy to get intimidated by world class rivers.

I guess the Henry's Fork was a little intimidating to me.

With the old rule of thumb being that "eighty percent of the fish are caught by twenty percent of the fishermen", I was pretty much convinced that at least for this trip I might fall into the "eighty percent" of fishless fellas category.

Nonetheless-- being the supreme optimist that I am-- I was up at 4:30 a.m. and heading upstream to Box Canyon. This is a stretch below Island Lake Reservoir, that is classic "tailwater" and a good place to fish with nymphs.

Now for those of you not familiar with the term "nymph fishing", I don't want you to race to the Henry's Fork with your Armani waders and Italian leather fishing vests--because you might be a tad disappointed to find mainly a bunch of fish crazed males when you get there. Nymph fishing is the term used for the stage of life, when an aquatic bug is residing beneath the surface of water, usually on the bottom.

If that gets you excited--then you have potential to be a fly fisherman. But leave the Gucci duds at home!!

I followed my map to the place where the guide shop had directed me, and took a short hike to the river. Water looked good, but I always get a little suspicious when I am not competing for fishing space with other fishermen. Especially on an easy access spot on a world famous river!!

My suspicions were justified, as I ran the leech/bead head combo through several riffles and pools and came away with bupkiss. I fished for an hour and decided to move downstream to Box Canyon campground.

I still hadn't seen another fisherman out on the water and it was about 8 o'clock by now. I walked downstream from the campground for about 3/4 mile and never saw another soul.Unless you count the two rather angry Ospreys that were giving me an earful as I stood below their nest. They, of course, had some luck that morning and were chowing down on something. The water was moving through the canyon here at a pretty good volume and I had to look hard for a spot to fish.

I finally found some water that looked good and fished a tiny pocket where I got a hit right away. I casted again to the same spot and....... seven monsterous inches later I had my first Henry's Fork trout.Hey, a fish is a fish, and at the current "fish story" growth ratio of 1 inch every 3 months-in two years he would become a 15 incher!!

That was it though, another hour went by and no more strikes or fish.

It was starting to warm up by now and I headed back to my truck--stopping to antagonize the Osprey--who were now also laughing at me --due to my lack of fish catching ability.

I considered painting my head white,climbing up the snag to the Osprey nest and stealing their fish-- but lacking some of the other attributes of the Bald Eagle--like wings and beak-- I opted to just slink out of the forest and let the Osprey gloat.

Bastards.

Oh well, that evening would be a different!!

to be continued.....

A.J. Klott

Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.

If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

In The News:

Boston.com
Gulf fishermen reel from seafood troubles
Boston.com
Gloom infects the hard-working shrimp and crab docks of this gritty fishing town as the second full year of fishing since BP's catastrophic oil spill kicks into high gear. Usually folks are upbeat and busy in May, when shrimpers get back to work in ...

and more »

Olive Press
Gibraltar police harass Spanish fishing boats
Fox News
Gibraltar police mobilized on Thursday for the second consecutive day to prevent Spanish fishing boats from casting nets in waters near the Rock. Accompanied by two Spanish Civil Guard vessels, five fishing boats set out from this southern city at ...
Tensions Rise Over Gibraltar Fishing DisputeEagle Radio
Navy steps into Gibraltar fishing rowOlive Press
PDP suggest licence 'solution' to fishing disputeGibraltar Chronicle
Vox Online News
all 33 news articles »

Allentown Morning Call
A Guide To Fishing In The Area
Hartford Courant
Flows are generally moderate and comfortable for fishing, the weekend forecast is for "summertime' weather, and there are still plenty of recently stocked trout. Fishing has been good in a number of areas throughout the state, with the best reports ...
Fish for Free on Memorial Day in PennsylvaniaAllentown Morning Call
Northern California fishing reportSan Jose Mercury News
Kokanee fishing good on PaulinaBend Bulletin
North County Times -The Tennessean -Lodi News-Sentinel
all 83 news articles »

Kenney: Fishing on holiday likely to get flukey
New York Daily News
Just pick your fish. And pick a boat. City dwellers might head to Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay docks. Boats there are ready to steer anglers to hot spots in Jamaica Bay or farther at sea. Capt. Dave II's daytime striped bassing out of Sheepshead Bay has ...

Overhaul after report finds fishing in deep water
ABC Online
The commercial fishing industry in New South Wales will be overhauled for the first time in nearly two decadues - after a highly-critical report was handed to the State Government. An independent review team has concluded the industry is in deep water.
Troubled waters: review says there are too many fishers in the seaSydney Morning Herald

all 83 news articles »

CTV.ca
China Blames Philippines for More Ships in Disputed Sea
Voice of America
Ships there are government vessels and conduct maritime surveillance and provide some guarantee to the fishing boats. By providing such assurance, Hong said Chinese fishermen can operate freely there. The Scarborough Shoal has been the site of a ...
Chinese continue fishing in shoal as Pinoys stay awayPhilippine Star
Beijing: Chinese fishermen complying with fishing ban at disputed shoalGMA News
Chinese breaking fishing ban at shoal won't be arrested, says PalaceInquirer.net (blog)
New Straits Times -Washington Post
all 246 news articles »

Fishing Best Bets: Anglers hope for improved Southwest Florida conditions
The News-Press
Special to news-press.com Dan Plesea discovered why Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists are interested in learning more about the distribution of exotic Nile tiliapia in Florida: Because they seem to be much more willing to strike ...
Fishing Report - Sheepshead bite picks up for area anglersStarNewsOnline.com
Fishing Forecast: Week of May 24-30The Virginian-Pilot
Focus on cobia fishingGainesville Sun
Naples Daily News -Camp Lejeune Globe
all 7 news articles »

Fish Lake Spring Survey Turns Up Usual Suspects and Two Tiger Muskie Over 40 ...
Salt Lake Tribune (blog)
Michael Hadley, an aquatic biologist with the UDWR, sent in this report on Fish Lake. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conducted a gill net survey at Fish Lake on May 17, 2012. This annual survey is designed to monitor the lake's rainbow and ...

49ers notes: Patrick Willis, Randy Moss forge a bond on fishing trips
San Jose Mercury News
"He's my best fishing buddy," Willis said after Thursday's practice. "We went fishing a couple times now and I've outfished him both times." Using the fishing hole of his neighbor, former Sharks star Owen Nolan, Willis proudly claims to have tallied ...

and more »

BEUKEMA: Fishing memories run in the family
Royal Oak Daily Tribune
By Roger Beukema “ It was the fishing that originally brought us together, but it's the friendship that keeps us together.” Those are the feelings Carlos Hathcock III has for fishing buddies Ken Neeley, John Miniaci, Bill McElroy -- all Michigan ...

Google News