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| Scenic Lake Billy Chinook |
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| Central Oregon lake provides wonderful scenery adn great late fall fishing |
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 | | Scott StaatsCENTRAL OREGONIAN | | The Deschutes arm of Lake Billy Chinook. |
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Buffleheads, mergansers and goldeneyes moved ahead of the boat as we made our way up the Deschutes arm of Lake Billy Chinook. Farther ahead, a small group of Canada geese eyed us warily. Sitting back in the comfortable 22-foot pontoon boat, looking up at multiple layers of lava flows on the canyon walls and seeing all the wildlife, I almost forgot the purpose of our trip.
I joined John Garrison, who operates Garrison's Guide Service in Sunriver, for a morning of fishing. Also along was Judy Fabris of Palm Springs, California, for her first fishing trip to the reservoir.
I've fished this section of Lake Billy Chinook several times and have yet to be skunked. There's nothing too complicated about how to catch trout there- get a few dozen worms, cast out and wait for the bite. I waited only about five minutes or less before the tip of the rod began its fish-dance and pulled in a bull trout that measured only 12 inches or so and back he went since they need to be at least 24 inches to keep.
From where the bridge crosses over the Deschutes arm, it's about a mile to where the Deschutes River empties into the reservoir. We concentrated our efforts on the last quarter-mile where the water is shallower and there's enough current to bounce the worms along the bottom when casting out. You can either anchor your boat at mid-channel or near the bank.
As the morning warmed up in the canyon, the trout seemed to get a bit hungrier. Besides bull trout, there are also rainbows and browns in about equal quantities. Judy caught the biggest trout, a rainbow measuring close to 16 inches. Between the two of us, we caught about 8 trout in three hours and kept some for a trout dinner that night.
"Winter is a good time to fish Lake Billy Chinook," said Garrison. "There are no crowds and the canyon scenery is gorgeous."
I had to be reminded several times that I was getting a bite. I'd be too busy looking through my binoculars at a bird or some interesting rock formation. The scenery of the canyon is at least as good as the fishing.
"I had a perfectly marvelous time fishing on Billy Chinook," Judy said. "It was a tribute to my late husband that I would take the initiative to go on a fishing trip. The place is like a hidden jewel in the middle of nowhere."
She later raved over the moist, fresh, tender trout she baked up that night. Her recipe to a successful trout dinner included dipping the fish in egg, flour, salt, pepper and paprika before baking, then serving with baked potato, green salad and a nice bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir.
The main part of the reservoir is open year round, including the Deschutes and Crooked River arms. The Metolius arm is open March 1 to October 31. A total of 25 kokanee may be kept in addition to the five trout limit. There are no size limits on kokanee.
The Crooked River arm of the reservoir offers similar scenery and fishing opportunities as the Deschutes arm. If fishing the Crooked River arm, use the boat ramp just as you come down the hill. For the Deschutes arm, drive over past the campground to the Upper Deschutes day-use area. Make sure the boat ramp is not icy. If it is, put in at the Crooked River ramp and go around The Island to the Deschutes arm.
Water levels in the reservoir may be low to allow for work on fish passage structures near the dam. Call Cove Palisades State Park (541-546-3412) before heading out. The sun doesn't hit the reservoir until mid to late morning, so dress warm.
"It was a gorgeous day in the canyon with the fall leaves, the wildlife and flora that you wouldn't expect to find if you were just riding down the highway," Judy noted. "And I can tell you that I'm hooked - line and sinker - to go out on another trip." |
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