FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 7:11 am
by risentidefishing
Made it out to Henshaw this past week to do a little bass and carp fishing. Started the morning off throwing at carp with the fly rod and picked off a few on a black leech before the wind kicked up. Switched over to conventional tackle and started flipping the tree's with a black and blue creature bait. Caught a nice 4lb fatty after a few minutes followed by another in the 2lb range a couple hundred yards down the tree line. Pulled into a pocket in the trees and hooked a nice one that wrapped me around a tree stump and got off. Next cast I hook another fish in the 5lb range that got off right at the net. Ughhhh Back to back cast losing good ones stung for a few minutes but I got reset and two flips later got another good bite that I was able to boat flip (should have done that with the previous fish). Probably in the 4-5lb range but it's tough to tell with how FAT the bass are out at Henshaw.
Went cold on the bass so I zipped back over to my carp zone and immediately started seeing fishing. Water was a little too skinny for the boat so I wadered up and went at them on foot. It was pretty much wide open on 10-15lb carp for the next 2 hours with some epic battles in the tight quarters of the flooded forrest. Arms started to get sore so I loaded back up in the boat and made one more pass back through the pocket in the trees that I lost a fish at early. Sure enough one was still in the exact same spot and I was able to finish the day with a nice 6lb football shaped bass.
Lake Henshaw is definitely an underrated bass fishery and I think the previous few years of high water has done the population well. Carp seem to have grown up too and the average size fish was a few pounds bigger then years past. And the best part was having the ENTIRE lake to myself! Made a video that I'll post below. Hope you guys enjoy! Tight Lines
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 1:42 pm
by MaxZmus
Nice! I wonder if the crappie population bounced back like the old days. All those fish looked super healthy.
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 3:14 pm
by galen
That forest was loaded, nice job.
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 3:22 pm
by VinnyBass
Caught many a bass at Henshaw of course that was many many many decades ago. Creme plastic worms, bomber baits, sonics, etc all did the trick.
Boy, those carp sure do fight and pretty crazy fun getting them on a fly rod. Thanks for sharing and looks like you had a blast after watching the video!
Tight lines always
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 3:59 pm
by NotBassFishingAgain
Did you have to pay for a permit? What time do they open up?!
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 6:22 pm
by risentidefishing
NotBassFishingAgain wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 3:59 pm
Did you have to pay for a permit? What time do they open up?!
Yeah it’s 9$ for a permit and I believe they open around 6:30-7am
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
NotBassFishingAgain wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 3:59 pm
Did you have to pay for a permit? What time do they open up?!
Yeah it’s 9$ for a permit and I believe they open around 6:30-7am
Are they allowing float tubes up there now?
No unfortunately just boats. But you can wader up and fish from shore and do pretty well. Most of the fish are up shallow in 2-3ft of water
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 7:41 am
by Kenroe
Are private boats permitted to launch at this lake???
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 2:59 pm
by KillinTime
Kenroe wrote: Tue May 20, 2025 7:41 am
Are private boats permitted to launch at this lake???
I have been launching a boat there since the early 90s with pretty good to great fishing. I stopped years ago when they started to mandate that your boat must be steam cleaned before it can go on the water. This was due to the quagga mussels. I don't mind the extra fee as much as the lackadaisical since of urgency the crew has in getting down to the wash station and by the time they are done, a 6 am start turns into a 8 am start =-/
I have had great days there on spinnerbait, cranks and jigs.
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 3:01 pm
by KillinTime
risentidefishing wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 7:11 am
Made it out to Henshaw this past week to do a little bass and carp fishing. Started the morning off throwing at carp with the fly rod and picked off a few on a black leech before the wind kicked up. Switched over to conventional tackle and started flipping the tree's with a black and blue creature bait. Caught a nice 4lb fatty after a few minutes followed by another in the 2lb range a couple hundred yards down the tree line. Pulled into a pocket in the trees and hooked a nice one that wrapped me around a tree stump and got off. Next cast I hook another fish in the 5lb range that got off right at the net. Ughhhh Back to back cast losing good ones stung for a few minutes but I got reset and two flips later got another good bite that I was able to boat flip (should have done that with the previous fish). Probably in the 4-5lb range but it's tough to tell with how FAT the bass are out at Henshaw.
Went cold on the bass so I zipped back over to my carp zone and immediately started seeing fishing. Water was a little too skinny for the boat so I wadered up and went at them on foot. It was pretty much wide open on 10-15lb carp for the next 2 hours with some epic battles in the tight quarters of the flooded forrest. Arms started to get sore so I loaded back up in the boat and made one more pass back through the pocket in the trees that I lost a fish at early. Sure enough one was still in the exact same spot and I was able to finish the day with a nice 6lb football shaped bass.
Lake Henshaw is definitely an underrated bass fishery and I think the previous few years of high water has done the population well. Carp seem to have grown up too and the average size fish was a few pounds bigger then years past. And the best part was having the ENTIRE lake to myself! Made a video that I'll post below. Hope you guys enjoy! Tight Lines
Thanks for the video. Your channel rocks and I have been a subscriber for awhile now. Keep them coming.
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 2:03 pm
by Fisheromen
Wow...just wow! Epic day! A buddy told me he was killing them wading in the trees! Do you always match your bait color to your reel?
Re: FAT Bass and Carp on the Fly at Lake Henshaw (video)
Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 6:36 pm
by VinnyBass
Fisheromen wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 2:03 pm
Wow...just wow! Epic day! A buddy told me he was killing them wading in the trees! Do you always match your bait color to your reel?
If you could float tube there, I bet you would be there Friday.
