12-05-2006, 11:23 PM
Here is some information that I have been told was collected by the F&G this November.
[left][size 3][font "Times New Roman"][/font][/size] [/left] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]HENRYS LAKE NOVEMBER FISHING[/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The fishing season on Henrys Lake was extended through November for the 2006 season. This was the first time the lake was open during the month of November in approximately 30 years. Some public concerns that were expressed about this extension during our public meetings follow:[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Extending the season one additional month in the fall might lead to excessive fishing pressure and subsequent excessive harvest.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]Extending the season through November might lead to an ice fishery during that month, with again subsequent excessive harvest and excessive pressure.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We surveyed the lake throughout the month of November for angling pressure. We counted anglers on 15 days throughout the month. The following observations/data were gathered from those surveys.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]OPEN WATER FISHING[/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Henrys Lake froze over for the first time on October 31st. Henrys completely thawed again on the afternoon of November 1st, but froze over again that night and remained partially frozen for the next three weeks. A pattern of some ice and some open water prevailed for the next three weeks. Open water areas changed periodically, depending on the winds. On November 23rd, the lake completely froze over and stayed that way until the end of the month. The following observations/data were gathered during the period of November 1st-November 23rd.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Angler counts were made on 8 of the 23 days in November prior to the lake freezing over for the winter.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]No anglers were observed on 25% of those 8 days.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]3)[/size] [size 3]Out of the 8 days, boats were observed on 3 days only (38%), with the most boats counted on 1 day being 2 boats.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]4)[/size] [size 3]Most of the angling pressure came from shoreline fishing with angling pressure noted at the following locations: Hatchery area, State Park, County Boat Dock, Wild Rose, and private residences. The most anglers counted at one time were 7. Shoreline angling pressure was heaviest at two locations: Hatchery area and the State Park.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]5)[/size] [size 3]8 fishing violations were detected.[/size][/font][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][/center] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]ICE FISHING[/font][/size][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Henrys Lake freezes over at different times each year as one might expect. Since 2001, Henrys has frozen over completely at dates varying from October 28th-November 23rd. Safe ice fishing conditions have not been evaluated, so that date is not available. However, as was the case this year, the lake often freezes over and then thaws at least partially again. [/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]The first ice fishing noted on the lake was November 24th.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]Angler counts were made on all days from November 24th - November 30th.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]3)[/size] [size 3]A total of 124 ice fishing anglers were counted, with the majority of those anglers fishing on November 29th and 30th (77%).[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]4)[/size] [size 3]Approximately 65% of the ice fishing anglers harvested fish.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]5)[/size] [size 3]Most ice fishing anglers caught at least 1 fish.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]6)[/size] [size 3]The maximum legal harvest for the 124 ice fishermen would have been 248 fish if every angler harvested their two-fish limit. Given that only 65% of anglers harvested fish, a total harvest of 162 fish is a reasonable estimate. This is less than 1% of the normal 20,000 fish harvest from Henrys Lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]7)[/size] [size 3]Ice fishing success overall was excellent, but ice fishing was noted in only 5 locations: Staley’s, Pintail Point, County boat dock, State boat ramp, and the hatchery area.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]8)[/size] [size 3]85% of the ice fishing anglers fished at the Staley Springs location.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]9)[/size] [size 3]Approximately 40 license checks were made. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]10)[/size] [size 3]No violations were detected pertaining to license infractions or over limits.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]11)[/size] [size 3]Overall angler satisfaction was high, with many anglers requesting continued ice fishing opportunity at Henrys Lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]12)[/size] [size 3]No catch and release mortality was noted, however due to some high catch rates and predominate use of bait, some mortality was inevitable. Most caught fish appeared to be hooked in the mouth area and not deeply embedded within the gills.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Overall, the angling pressure and harvest during the month of November was relatively light and probably insignificant to the fish population on Henrys. The major concerns were based on the following observations:[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Angler access at Staley Springs. The only public access is located approximately ¼ mile from the spring area. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]A relatively short ice fishing opportunity this year created few, if any concerns or problems. However, if ice conditions provided a longer ice fishery in future years, angling pressure could increase dramatically. Although reduced fish population concerns would still probably not be realized. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
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[left][size 3][font "Times New Roman"][/font][/size] [/left] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]HENRYS LAKE NOVEMBER FISHING[/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The fishing season on Henrys Lake was extended through November for the 2006 season. This was the first time the lake was open during the month of November in approximately 30 years. Some public concerns that were expressed about this extension during our public meetings follow:[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Extending the season one additional month in the fall might lead to excessive fishing pressure and subsequent excessive harvest.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]Extending the season through November might lead to an ice fishery during that month, with again subsequent excessive harvest and excessive pressure.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We surveyed the lake throughout the month of November for angling pressure. We counted anglers on 15 days throughout the month. The following observations/data were gathered from those surveys.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]OPEN WATER FISHING[/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Henrys Lake froze over for the first time on October 31st. Henrys completely thawed again on the afternoon of November 1st, but froze over again that night and remained partially frozen for the next three weeks. A pattern of some ice and some open water prevailed for the next three weeks. Open water areas changed periodically, depending on the winds. On November 23rd, the lake completely froze over and stayed that way until the end of the month. The following observations/data were gathered during the period of November 1st-November 23rd.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Angler counts were made on 8 of the 23 days in November prior to the lake freezing over for the winter.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]No anglers were observed on 25% of those 8 days.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]3)[/size] [size 3]Out of the 8 days, boats were observed on 3 days only (38%), with the most boats counted on 1 day being 2 boats.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]4)[/size] [size 3]Most of the angling pressure came from shoreline fishing with angling pressure noted at the following locations: Hatchery area, State Park, County Boat Dock, Wild Rose, and private residences. The most anglers counted at one time were 7. Shoreline angling pressure was heaviest at two locations: Hatchery area and the State Park.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]5)[/size] [size 3]8 fishing violations were detected.[/size][/font][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][/center] [center][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]ICE FISHING[/font][/size][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Henrys Lake freezes over at different times each year as one might expect. Since 2001, Henrys has frozen over completely at dates varying from October 28th-November 23rd. Safe ice fishing conditions have not been evaluated, so that date is not available. However, as was the case this year, the lake often freezes over and then thaws at least partially again. [/font][/size][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]The first ice fishing noted on the lake was November 24th.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]Angler counts were made on all days from November 24th - November 30th.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]3)[/size] [size 3]A total of 124 ice fishing anglers were counted, with the majority of those anglers fishing on November 29th and 30th (77%).[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]4)[/size] [size 3]Approximately 65% of the ice fishing anglers harvested fish.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]5)[/size] [size 3]Most ice fishing anglers caught at least 1 fish.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]6)[/size] [size 3]The maximum legal harvest for the 124 ice fishermen would have been 248 fish if every angler harvested their two-fish limit. Given that only 65% of anglers harvested fish, a total harvest of 162 fish is a reasonable estimate. This is less than 1% of the normal 20,000 fish harvest from Henrys Lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]7)[/size] [size 3]Ice fishing success overall was excellent, but ice fishing was noted in only 5 locations: Staley’s, Pintail Point, County boat dock, State boat ramp, and the hatchery area.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]8)[/size] [size 3]85% of the ice fishing anglers fished at the Staley Springs location.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]9)[/size] [size 3]Approximately 40 license checks were made. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]10)[/size] [size 3]No violations were detected pertaining to license infractions or over limits.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]11)[/size] [size 3]Overall angler satisfaction was high, with many anglers requesting continued ice fishing opportunity at Henrys Lake.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]12)[/size] [size 3]No catch and release mortality was noted, however due to some high catch rates and predominate use of bait, some mortality was inevitable. Most caught fish appeared to be hooked in the mouth area and not deeply embedded within the gills.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Overall, the angling pressure and harvest during the month of November was relatively light and probably insignificant to the fish population on Henrys. The major concerns were based on the following observations:[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]1)[/size] [size 3]Angler access at Staley Springs. The only public access is located approximately ¼ mile from the spring area. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]2)[/size] [size 3]A relatively short ice fishing opportunity this year created few, if any concerns or problems. However, if ice conditions provided a longer ice fishery in future years, angling pressure could increase dramatically. Although reduced fish population concerns would still probably not be realized. [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] [/size][/font]
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