Monday May 18, 2026
East Idaho News —
Idaho Fish and Game, in partnership with the Henrys Lake Foundation, has launched a new evaluation of stocking strategies aimed at improving the survival of hatchery-raised hybrid trout in Henrys Lake.
Henrys Lake is one of Idaho’s most popular fisheries and relies heavily on annual stocking to maintain strong trout populations. In a typical year, hatchery-origin fish make up an estimated 85–90% of the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout population, and all hybrid Trout (Rainbow Trout × Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout) come from hatcheries. Brook Trout are less reliant on supplementation, with roughly 25–50% originating from hatchery releases. To support this high-demand fishery, Henrys Lake receives between 1.0 and 1.5 million fingerling trout each year.
Over the past several years, Idaho Fish and Game biologists have observed reduced survival of stocked fingerling trout, contributing to lower catch rates and a decline in overall fishery performance. Water quality challenges and predation by larger trout are believed to be among the leading causes of mortality, particularly during the first year of life when young fish are most vulnerable.