Show Notes with Darren Huntsman on Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing
In this episode, Phil Rowley sits down with Darren Huntsman to dig into stillwater fly fishing, with a focus on Idaho’s Henry’s Lake. They talk about why this lake stands out, from big fish to tough conditions, and the memories that keep anglers coming back.
Darren shares how he got started in fly fishing and what he’s learned after years on Henry’s Lake. They also break down the flies, strategies, and presentation techniques he uses throughout the season, and how they apply to other lakes too.
Listener Question: Choosing the Right Stillwater Fly Line
Before jumping into the episode, Phil answers a great question from Tim Carpenter: how do you know which fly line to use in different situations?
Phil explains that stillwater fly fishing can feel overwhelming because there are so many line options. But you don’t need all of them. He breaks it down into a simple core setup:
- A floating line for indicators, long leaders, and weighted nymphs
- A clear intermediate line for shallow nymphing, streamers, and leeches
- A fast sinking line (type 3 to type 7) based on how deep you fish
He also reminds us that line choice depends on conditions, and many lines can do more than one job. The key is to learn your lines and use them often so you know what works when things get tough.
Want to go deeper on this? Phil already has a few episodes that break it all down:
- Littoral Zone #5: Making Sense of Stillwater Fly Lines with Phil Rowley
- Littoral Zone #6: Making Sense of Stillwater Fly Lines with Phil Rowley (Part 2)
- Littoral Zone #20 | Sinking Line Tactics for Stillwater Fly Fishing with Phil Rowley
About Darren Huntsman
Darren grew up in Idaho near the Snake River, learning from his dad, who loved to fish and teach. By age six, he was already out there, picking things up fast.
He started with worms and bobbers, but noticed the biggest fish always came on a fly rod. That stuck. By seven or eight, he had his own fly rod and was all in.
He chased big fish from then on, from salmon and steelhead to trips in Alaska. When those slowed down, he turned to stillwater, which led him to Henry’s Lake.
Henry’s Lake Overview
Henry’s Lake sits between Island Park and West Yellowstone on the Idaho–Montana border. It’s a big lake, but still easy to explore in a weekend. Wind can hit from any direction, and conditions change fast.
It’s shallow and very productive. Even in summer, fish find cooler spring-fed water.
- Big fish: Cutthroat, brook trout, and hybrids
- Lots of food: Bugs, scuds, and Utah chub
- Shallow lake: Full of life across most areas
Darren says the fish numbers dipped a few years ago, but are now coming back. And Henry’s Lake doesn’t always follow the usual rules.
Set up for Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing
Rod
Darren says a 6 wt rod is the minimum, but his go-to is a 10 ft 6 wt. Some anglers step up to a 7 wt when the wind kicks up or when they need more distance.
He likes rods from Sage and Echo, especially the Echo Stillwater rod.
Fly Lines
Darren says you can keep it simple with just a few lines:
- Floating line for indicators
- Hover or intermediate for most retrieves
- Type III for deeper water
If he had to pick one, it’s an intermediate line. It stays under the surface and handles wind better.
Leader Setup
For indicator fishing, Darren starts with about 30 inches of 20 lb nylon. He uses nylon because it floats better than fluorocarbon. From there, he builds down to a swivel using the same line size, then adjusts depth below that. He uses knots as markers so he knows where to place things.
When fishing deeper lines, he switches to fluorocarbon so everything sinks properly.
For retrieves, he goes lighter, usually 10 lb down to 8 lb, and runs a long leader. He says most anglers use 7 to 10 feet, but he prefers 12 to 18 feet.
One key thing he points out is that many top anglers use just one fly.With all the weeds, a second fly can cause more problems. It snags more and throws off your depth and timing.
Depth, Pattern, and Retrieve
Darren says three things matter most: depth, pattern, and retrieve. But depth comes first. If your fly isn’t where the fish are, it doesn’t matter what you’re using.
He also says Henry’s Lake fish can be really picky. Even when you match what they’re eating, it can still be tough.
Retrieve makes a big difference:
- A steady “Henry’s strip” (about 8 inches) is a good starting point
- Some days they want it fast, almost ripping it in
- Other times, especially shallow, they want it very slow
One of his favorite tricks is fishing near the bottom and stripping fast. He often uses a simple bug like a Halloween leech, and the fish just crush it.
The key is to stay flexible. What works one minute might not work the next.
Go-To Flies for Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing
Darren keeps his flies simple and sparse. One of his favorites is the crystal bugger. It’s basically a woolly bugger with a slightly brighter body, but tied thin with a plain marabou tail. He uses a smaller hackle than normal. Even on a size 10, he’ll use a hackle sized for a 16 to keep the fly clean and not bulky.
He also mentions patterns from Bill Schiess’s book Fishing Henry’s Lake, which has been a big influence on these flies. A lot of today’s patterns come from those originals, just tied a bit cleaner and thinner.
For example, the Mity Mouse is usually tied thick, but Darren ties his very sparse with minimal materials.
Darren also shares a simple but powerful tip he learned from Bill. Keep your rod tip low and watch your line. When you pause your retrieve, your line should sag slightly. If it suddenly tightens or lifts on its own, that’s likely a fish.
You can find copies of Bill Schiess’s book Fishing Henry’s Lake at Drift Lodge & Fly Shop.
Hatch Timeline at Henry’s Lake
Darren lays out a simple order of what shows up through the season:
- Early season – leeches, baitfish, and bigger patterns
- Chironomids start coming off
- Damsels follow
- Caddis show up and can last a while
- Calibaetis mix in, especially in the shallows
Most of the feeding is still below the surface, but you will see some fish come up during caddis or calibaetis hatches.
For patterns, he likes a Henry’s Lake Renegade for caddis, tied sparse with a peacock body and light hackle. For damsels, he keeps them thin and bright, close to that Kelly green color.
The order helps, but every day is different. You still have to figure out what they want.
Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing: Where and When
Early season, fish are spread out. You have to move and find them. Once you do, you can stay and pick off a few.
Duck Creek is one of Darren’s go-to areas. It has shallow water and deeper weed pockets. Find the holes in the weeds, that’s where the fish are. The north shore, county dock, and Howard Creek can also fish well depending on the day.
Get out early if you can. First light can be really good. Midday, around 10 to 2, is usually steady. Just keep an eye on the weather, it can change fast.
What Makes Henry’s Lake Special
Henry’s Lake gives you a real shot at big fish on every cast. You’ve got hybrids that can hit double digits, plus big brookies and Yellowstone cutthroat. That’s what keeps people coming back.
It’s also easy to access. Roads are good, and there are plenty of places to stay around the lake. You’re close to other fisheries too, so you can mix things up if you want.
There’s also ongoing work to keep the lake in good shape. Groups like the Henry’s Lake Foundation are helping improve the fishery and protect it for the future. You can learn more about the great work being done by the Henry’s Lake Foundation here.
Connect with Darren + Plan Your Trip
If you want to learn Henry’s Lake faster, Darren is now offering instruction and guiding. It’s a great way to shorten the learning curve and get on fish quicker.
You can reach out to him directly or check out his work here:
Website – STLWTR Fishing Co.
Email Darren – [email protected]
Henry’s Lake Guide Service – @henryslakeguideservice
Follow Darren @stillwaterskeeter
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing Resources Noted in the Show
Pattern Recipes for Darren’s flies
Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing Videos Noted in the Show
Related Podcast Episodes
Conclusion with Darren Huntsman on Henry’s Lake Fly Fishing
If you’re heading to Henry’s Lake, this episode gives you a solid starting point to figure things out faster. Now it’s your turn to get out there, put it into practice, and see what works for you.