Once the Metolius arm opens, fish around Chinook Island and up by Perry South Campground. Open to fishing all year. Daily Permits allows families to fish in Areas 1, 3, and 4 and camp within designated campgrounds in Areas 1 and 2. So you can keep 10 kokanee, or 9 kokanee and 1 bull trout (I believe that's how they count). Now if I could just get my wife to clean the fish she catches! Before fishing, check the ODFW website linked below for definitions of where the Metolius Arm is located, where river regulations take effect at the top of the arms, and other important details. ) or https:// means you've safely April 19, 2023. The marina also includes a caf and store that sells fuel and ice. Thanks. Lake Billy Chinook Fishing Regulations. Pine Nursery was recently stocked with rainbow trout and anglers report excellent fishing. Large bull trout are the primary target of most fishermen on this section of water. Tyler is a native to Oregon and is currently living on the Oregon Coast. LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass. The Cove Palisades Resort and Marina also is located within the state park and offers lots of boat rentals, a store, restaurant and other amenities. (4)Bull trout One per day, which must be at least 24 inches in length; only one may be in possession; no live bull trout may be held while angling. A forum community dedicated to anglers and fishing enthusiasts. Prineville, Oregon 97754 This is a great spot for angling, and weve included it on our collection ofCentral Oregons best fishing lakes north of Bendand also on our list of best kokanee fishing lakes in Oregon. Lure anglers do very well and sometimes catch the bigger fish. More than three miles of hiking trails are available around the campground and day-use areas near the Deschutes River. Open to fishing all year. 25-28) Lake Billy Chinook, Culver - 46 mi., 75 min. Stonefly nymphing has been particularly good lately. Lake Billy Chinook also is known as Oregons best fishery for bull trout, a large native char that is strictly protected in most state waters. The water level remains extremely low, and it may be difficult to launch a bigger boat. From April to October, The Cove Palisades Resort and Marinarents boat moorages, boats and water toys, including water skis, tubes, life jackets and ropes. Kokanee salmon are easier to catch in the summer months when they come up to feed on zooplankton. You will often catch bass near rocky shorelines, but they move a little deeper after the spring spawn. Open to fishing all year. OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass. and best known for its bull trout fishery.. Billy Chinook Lake is a reservoir located in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Fishing is restricted to fly-fishing only upstream of Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). . The reservoir, with nearly 4,000 surface acres when full, is the only place in Oregon where anglers can keep a native bull trout. However, the roads remain snow-covered and the lake is frozen. See our Boaters Guide for more information. The distance from the Crooked River Campground to the Crooked River Dayuse Area is approximatley 1 mile down a steep, winding roadway that can have a lot of traffic on busy weekends; it is strongly recommended to drive from camp to dayuse. Boating will likely be a challenge with the wind. Last updated 4/19/23. Expect low and dirty water conditions. These fish provide a rare opportunity for anglers to catch a trophy-size rainbow trout. One of the best ways to find kokanee at Lake Billy Chinook is to look for jumpers. Real-life footage of bugs (mainly a praying mantis and a caterpillar) tells the story of their life in the rain forest. A chance to draw an additional deer, elk or pronghorn tag with a months-long season. Anglers fishing the reach below the Dam should expect water levels to rise by 250 cfs on Monday April 17, remain at that level through Wednesday, April 19 and then decrease on Thursday. The river levels today are down at 112 cfs. How to get to Lake Billy Chinook. Ryan even mentioned it couldve been around 30 pounds. Reports of good trout fishing in the Maupin area through Macks Canyon Access Road. Open where it borders on the Reservation up to a point approximately 350 yards downstream from the cable crossing. Artificial flies and lures only. Brian Russell lives between La Pine and Sunriver and has been fishing for kokanee since 1996. Season and multi-day permits allows families to fish in Areas 1, 3 and 4 and camp within designated campgrounds in Areas 1 and 2. Before the limit was increased to 10 fish ranged from 8 to 9" this time of the year. Lava Lake was last stocked with legal-size rainbow trout in June. The reservoir is currently 88 percent full and ODFW stocked additional fish the week of April 10-14. Central Oregons best fishing lakes north of Bend, Bass Fishing: Simple How-To Techniques and Tips. Our Lake Billy Chinook fishing maps show areas we love to fish. View points and rest stations are featured at various locations. Take the opportunity to experience a unique Korean winter festival, in celebration of Mountain Trout, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo festival! F ishing Lake Billy Chinook during the winter is a lot like fishing Lake Billy Chinook in the spring only about 30 degrees cooler. Reopens to fishing April 22, 2023. North and South Twin were stocked with trout in mid-August and trophy trout in late August. The Wetlands Nature Trail is an easy, flat, quarter mile - loop trail. Scheduled to be stocked this week: Cottonwood Pit, Antelope Flat Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, Shevlin Pond, Metolius Pond, Recently stocked:Pine Hollow Reservoir, Rock Creek Reservoir, Taylor Lake, Baker Pond, Prineville Fishing Pond, Middle Fork Pond, Check out the 2023 trout stocking schedule. No recent reports. Theres a lot of fish out there go catch some. More of the riverbanks are public land. Last updated 4/26/23. Anglers who catch a bull trout should release it unharmed and report their catch to the US Fish and Wildlife Service at crookedbulltrout@fws.gov. Flat water, sun came out, eager biters, and a quick limit. There will be no spring Chinook season on the Deschutes River this year due very low forecasted returns of wild spring Chinook to the river. Last updated 4/5/23. Popular Fishing Methodsat Billy Chinook Lake include: Shoreline, trolling and still-fishing. Please check road department website for updates in advance of opening and closing target dates. JavaScript is disabled. Ryan Mejaski of Bend, Ore., holds a bull trout that he caught on April 8, 2023, in Lake Billy Chinook. Begin in the Deschutes Campground (6 miles round-trip) or the Upper Deschutes day-use area boat trailer parking lot (7 miles round-trip). April 15 - June 30:The Hood River is open to retention of hatchery spring Chinook salmon in the following areas:1) In the mainstem, from the tips of the jetties at the mouth upstream to the confluence with the East Fork; and2)In the West Fork, from the confluence with the mainstem upstream to the angling deadline 200 feet downstream of Punchbowl Falls. Last updated 4/26/23. Billy Chinook Lake fishing reports offers a wide variety of fish for Anglers such as Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Bull Trout, Black Crappie and Whitefish. -. When hiking at The Cove, remember to always take water, check the weather before you go, wear sturdy hiking shoes, dress in layers, stay on the trail at all times, keep dogs on leash and have a great time! Crooked River anglers may encounter bull trout now that there is volitional passage at Opal Springs. O. . On April 8, Ryan Mejaski and Joe Wilhite were fishing for kokanee on the Deschutes arm of Lake Billy Chinook without much luck when they decided to move spots. A family is defined as a husband and wife and children under the age of 14 years of age. The reservoir is named after a Native American, Billy Chinook, of the . depth (ft) To depth map. Campers may have a total of two vehicles per site; extra vehicle is $7 per night. Open to fishing all year. April is a great month for Chinook fishing on the lower Rogue. Had a couple bull trout in the mix as well in the 16-18 range. If you are there in the summer, plan to fish early and late to avoid the pleasure boaters. The river is open to fishing all year above Fall River Falls and open to fishing May 22 Sep 30 below the falls. Nymphing with stonefly, mayfly, or caddisfly nymphs or has been effective for trout and streamers are a good bet for bull trout. There are two arms that provide good fishing, the Metolius arm and the Deschutes arm with water feeding each river accordingly. Sun Publishing, 716 NE 4th Street, Bend, Oregon. Outdoorsman Fishing Lake Guides and Fishing Reports highlights Fishing Lakes, Tackle, Bait, Books, Gear and more to help make your next fishing trip more enjoyable. Fernan Lake - 6,800 rainbow trout. The lake is closed to all fishing from the signed point upstream, approximately 350 yards, to the cable . test line, he finally brought it to the surface and netted it. Odell Lake will reopen April 22, 2023; however, reports of deep snow drifts and ice coverage may delay access. Action was so fast barely had time to pour a cup of coffee. Anglers should use caution on the river margins where shelf ice may be present. Another non-native species, smallmouth bass, are incredibly plentiful in Lake Billy Chinook, although most are modest in size. Rock Creek Reservoir was stocked the week of April 17 with 3,150 legal-size and 403 trophy trout. Water levels fluctuate greatly with the irrigation season. The Deschutes River from the re-regulating dam downstream to the mouth is open for trout fishing. Braid and Buzz Bomb jigs are also good producers. Two down riggers fished 80 to 85 feet deep and one flatline with 2 oz of lead out 45 feet directly behind the boat. Public ownership in this stretch of river is primarily a combination of BLM, USFS land, and three state parks. THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout. Billy Chinook Lake Boat Launch Information. Wickiup Reservoir will reopen April 22, 2023; however, reports of deep snow drifts and ice coverage may delay access. Now that biologists are attempting to reintroduce ocean-going sockeye above the reservoirs, the limits have been reduced. The bull trout, part of the char branch of the trout family tree, are a giant trout that have struggled significantly across most of the West, where they are almost universally protected. The only navigable expanse is in the Deschutes Arm of Lake Billy Chinook. Let us know how you do. the other pink and black beads and gold blade spinner. Anglers report good winter kokanee and excellent bull trout fishing. Bull trout are caught throughout the reservoir but typically are most common in the Metolius Arm, which is cooler and fed by the Metolius River, where these bull trout go to spawn and feed. Campers can choose either the Deschutes or Crooked River campgrounds at The Cove Palisades State Park. The Pyeongchang Trout Festival takes place during winter in the town of Jinbu-myeon in Pyeongchang-gun district. If kokanee are schooled up near the bottom, vertical jigging is very effective. Last updated 4/26/23. Find more fishing spots in Jefferson County, ODFW Weekly Fishing ReportODFW Trout Stocking ScheduleOregon Fishing RegulationsNational Weather Service. Last updated 2/1/23. Some reports indicate that largemouth bass may also inhabit the lake. We're excited to have you join a community of people eager to share their passion for fishing with one another. Crooked River arm right off the boat ramp as soon as the water got deep. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Is the limit only 5 Kokanee? Reopens to fishing April 22, 2023. In addition to being the premiere location to catch bull trout and kokanee, there are also rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and other species in the lake. Can I walk to the water from the Crooked River Campground (E Loop), Mar 1 The bass are an invasive species, and as such the ODFW allows anglers to keep as many as they want, in any size. 2023 | That Oregon Life LLC | All rights reserved, Record-Breaking Bull Trout? Did change in limit affect size of fish? Madras, Oregon 97741 It is roughly two and a half hours southeast of Portland and less than an hour north of Bend. Again, the rivers began to erode these canyons to their present configuration, and large landslides occurred in the steep-walled canyons. Kokanee over 16 inches are considered sockeye salmon and must be released unharmed. This tower is the cornerstone of anadromous fish restoration to the Deschutes headwaters, designed to create surface currents over Lake Billy Chinook that guide juvenile salmon and steelhead into collection facilities at the Round Butte Dam for transport downstream. Open to fishing all year, anglers should still expect some ice coverage at North and South Twin lakes. Some popular colors are pink/pearl, orange, green and chartreuse. No bag or size limits on brown trout and bass. The thing maxed out Wilhites fishing net scale at 25 pounds. Use caution on the Tam A Lau Trail when wet, the mud can be slippery. For boat launch information seePerry South Boating Site.Three Rivers Marina, Cove Palisades Restaurant & Marina, Deschutes arm, and Crooked River arm. The reservoir is accessible and ice has melted. Stocking in these locations will be delayed until they are accessible to the stocking trucks. 2021 Lake Billy Chinook. If there is snow the road will get plowed. Nymphing has been the most effective method. Source: "Fishing Central Oregon-Third Edition", 1998. Fishing Lake Billy Chinook in the dead of winter is a lot like fishing Lake Billy Chinook in the spring only about 30 degrees cooler. (B)Houseboats and recreational boats are prohibited from landing, anchoring and mooring along the Reservation side (north) of Lake Billy Chinook and on other tribal lands. If fishing deeper is required, weight can be added in front of the flashers. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. They were good smoked! Last updated 4/19/23. Lower Deschutes Day-use Area closes in the winter. Crooked River anglers may encounter bull trout now that there is volitional passage at Opal Springs. United States government. No recent updates. In some spots the river is wadable, and in other areas bank fishing is the rule. Today was rough. Although the bull trout is listed as a threatened species with the US Fish and . The pond is located mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee. As ODFW works to reintroduce sockeye as well as other salmon and steelhead into the Deschutes, Crooked and Metolius river systems above Lake Billy Chinook, anglers may no longer keep kokanee larger than 16 inches. More information: Bass Fishing: Simple How-To Techniques and Tips. Additional lands were acquired in 1966 and 1977. 2021 was the final release for hatchery winter steelhead smolts in the Hood River. Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook (Area 4). Last updated 4/19/23. Open to fishing all year. Winter steelhead are still in the Hood River with anglers still reporting success. The season for the Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook is reopened March 1; tribal angling permits are required. (541) 416-6500 Cove Palisades State Park surrounds a large portion of the lake. The Cove Palisades includes a great expanse of central Oregon semi-arid plateau dissected by the deep cutting river channels of the Crooked, and Metolius rivers as they meet to form the larger Deschutes River. Don't know how you cook them here but in Montana seem's we always smoked them. The largest concentration of wild fish is from about a mile below Lower Bridge to Lake Billy Chinook. See our Recreation Guide for a map of the park including hiking trails and paddling routes. PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass. Varying the amount of line let out will change the fishing depth. It is easily accessible from Highway 97 or Highway 26. rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee. for updates in advance of opening and closing target dates. Fish between 10 and 11 1/2 inches, fat and had copepods. There aren't many places in Oregon where you can specifically target Bull Trout - but this is one of them. Find more fishing spots in Jefferson County. Anglers who catch a bull trout should release it unharmed and report their catch to the US Fish and Wildlife Service at. on official, secure websites. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Lake Billy Chinook is also popular for Kokanee salmon fishing which is a land-locked sockeye salmon. Only once have I been concerned pulling the boat down and that was due to super frosty conditions. Located in the heart of central Oregon and encompassing the Deschutes and Crooked River canyons, The Cove Palisades State Park is a popular year-round destination for camping and water sports. Very few spring Chinook are currently in the Hood River, and the majority of fish are generally caught mid-May through June. The reservoir is currently 65 percent full. If you're interested in learning to tie these flies, we've included links to show you how! However, the roads remain snow-covered and the lake is frozen. These are locatednear where the Deschutes and Crooked rivers enter the reservoir on the southeast side. If you've never fished here before these are great places to start. Steelhead Falls is about 5 miles below Lower Bridge. The marine chart shows depth and hydrology of Billy Chinook Lake on the map, which is located in the Oregon state (Jefferson). At Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes joins the Crooked and Metolius rivers. Last updated 4/26/23. No recent updates. (C)Chinook Island is for day use only, from 7:00 a.m. 9:00 p.m. Houseboats & recreational boats are prohibited from landing, anchoring and mooring at Chinook Island from 9:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. No anchoring or mooring on log boom. Still, many anglers release all bull trout to help preserve this unique sport fishery, one of only two places in the West where keeping a bull trout is allowed. Oregon Resources PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie. No recent reports. Deschutes River; Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls. This manmade wetland area was built in 2001 to mitigate local runoff issues by installing a cattail filtration system before running into Lake Billy Chinook and stablize healthy fish populations. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Please seee-regulations. The reservoir is currently 88 percent full and ODFW stocked additional fish the week of April 10-14, Spring Chinook, winter steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Steelhead Falls is about 5 miles below Lower Bridge. Kokanee are included as part of the trout bag limit. An angler will typically catch bull trout ranging from 14 to 20 inches in length. They commented on the increased size of fish for this time of year. Reservoir levels are above the state park, Jasper Point, and Powderhouse Cove boat ramp elevations. To lengthen the hike, you can make your way around to all four overlooks along a paved, typically low-use, roadway. Lake Billy Chinook, sometimes listed as Billy Chinook Reservoir or Round Butte Reservoir, was formed as part of a large hydroelectric system that also includes the smaller Lake Simtustus below. Chinook Island is a great spot to stop for a picnic and a short hike. This pretty reservoir near Parkdale (south of the city of Hood River) offers good fishing for stocked rainbow trout. In 2015 a 280-acre wildfire burned through the area; since then, there are impressive examples of primary and secondary successive growth. The water level remains extremely low, and it may be difficult to launch a bigger boat. That makes a lot more sense! To ensure a healthy population of these large trout continues for future anglers, Catch and Release is encouraged for all size classes. Open to fishing all year. On Flathead Lake in Montana I used to fish for them off the bank with florescent orange spoons and managed to catch them, tried them here and nothing! The area is rich in wildlife. 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Metolius Arm: Tribal angling permits are required. As the river leaves Bend, it passes the last man-made obstruction for 40 miles and becomes a wild, canyon river. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Metolius Arm: Closed to all angling from the cable car crossing on the Metolius River to a signed point approximately 350 yards downstream. The west bank of the river along the Warm Springs Reservation is closed to fishing and access, but certain sections are accessible to anglers if they purchase a tribal angling permit. Lake Billy Chinook is perhaps best known for its bull trout fishery. Lake Billy Chinook is perhaps best known for its bull trout fishery. Mejaski said they continued fishing that day and caught a second massive bull trout only slightly smaller than the one they had released. While Ryan wishes hed kept the fish, hes happy to share his story with other anglers. The deepest part of the canyon below Lower Bridge has excellent slots and pools and the best potential for a fishery if flows could be stabilized. Sign up for monthly emails full of local travel inspiration and fun trip ideas.
