Henry's Lake
HENRY'S LAKE
ReportOCT 28 — NOV 4, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
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Water Temp
—
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Weather
21–40°F
Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
Henry's Lake is cooling fast under shorter days and freezing nights, with trout actively cruising weed beds, creek mouths, drop-offs, and spring holes. Dangerous wind events can fire up from the southeast or north without warning, so watch the sky and stay close to shore.
From the ShopBruce Staples · October 28, 2026
Presenting streamer, leech, and woolly bugger patterns is now a great way to attract trout during windy conditions. Strong windy conditions make boating very dangerous, and such can come up from the southeast and north in an instant.
The lake is cooling off thanks to fewer daylight hours and colder nights. Trout are cruising the shallows near weed beds, creek mouths, drop-offs, and adjacent to spring holes. Start fishing from first light to midday, or when the wind calms.
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–#16 | High — trout actively hunting shallows | First light through midday |
| Streamers / Baitfish | #6–#12 | High — effective in wind-churned water | First light through midday |
| Chironomids (Midges) | #14–#18 | Moderate — late-season stillwater staple | Calm midday windows |
Best Time Window
- FIRST LIGHT TO MIDDAY: Prime window for streamer and leech fishing before afternoon winds build — focus on weed beds, creek mouths, and drop-offs.
- WIND CALM PERIODS (ANY TIME): When the wind lays down, get on the water immediately and work spring holes and shallow flats with slow-stripped leeches and buggers.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWind is the biggest variable on Henry's Lake right now — it can go from glassy to dangerous in minutes, so always keep an eye on the horizon and have a plan to get off the water fast. Focus your time on weed bed edges, creek mouths, and the transition zones near spring holes, as that's where trout are concentrating in the cold water. Strip streamers and leeches slowly along the bottom in these areas; the fish are there, but the cold water means they won't chase far. If the report mentions woolly bugger patterns specifically, note that no exact woolly bugger is in the current catalog — ask in-shop for our closest in-stock equivalent.
Main Species
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
