The Metolius Arm opens to fishing on March 1 and requires a Warm Springs . Stonefly nymphing has been particularly good lately. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Anglers report good trout fishing near the dam. Having a variety of jig colors is important. Artificial flies and lures only. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Sign up for the latest information on boater access. What the heck, I learned how to catch crappie! Anglers continue to report good bull trout fishing and fair kokanee fishing on Lake Billy Chinook. 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. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The Metolius River continues to fish well. 4000 surface area (acres) 415 max. will remain closed to ocean salmon fishing through May 15. Watch for the wind forecast before you decide to go. Before the limit was increased to 10 fish ranged from 8 to 9" this time of the year. (541) 416-6640 The Cove Palisades State Park - Oregon State Parks The top three state records have all come from this lake, the largest being 23 lb 2 oz. Crooked River arm right off the boat ramp as soon as the water got deep. Not sure color made any difference. year-round for trout. Billy Chinook Lake nautical chart. Rain on snow events cause dynamic flows on the Hood River throughout winter and spring. This pretty reservoir near Parkdale (south of the city of Hood River) offers good fishing for stocked rainbow trout. will reopen April 22, 2023; however, reports of deep snow drifts and ice coverage may delay access. Apex lures are a consistent-producing lure for this type of fishing, and Wedding Ring-type spinners, hoochies and a variety of spoons work well. Oregon Resources HOOD RIVER: Spring Chinook, winter steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Official websites use .gov A .gov The current state record bull trout was caught in 1989 from Lake Billy Chinook and weighed 23 lbs., 2 ounces. The flies we've listed below are some of the locals favorites for this section of the water. The Deschutes River from Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake closed to fishing for the season on Sept. 30. The fish tend to be found in different locations at different times of the year, but they are usually willing biters. Please check. The wood River opens April 22, and fishing should be excellent. North and South Twin were stocked with trout in mid-August and trophy trout in late August. This reservoir is unique in shape, as it has three long arms created naturally from the Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers. Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 62,900 10-12" catchable-sized rainbow trout in May. Take the opportunity to experience a unique Korean winter festival, in celebration of Mountain Trout, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo festival! These naturally reproducing salmon can range from 12 to 16 inches and be as big as 1 lb. Smallmouths, especially the little ones, are easily caught with worms and nightcrawlers. The Metolius Arm reopened to fishing on March 1. However, the roads remain snow-covered and the lake is frozen. Open to fishing all year, anglers should stillexpect some ice coverage at North and South Twin lakes. Kokanee fishing tends to be best in the cooler Metolius Arm during warmer weather, but you also will find them elsewhere. Crooked River anglers may encounter bull trout now that there is volitional passage at Opal Springs. Like many Central Oregon lakes, part of Billy Chinook is open to year-round angling. Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com. Metolius Arm: Closed to all angling from the cable car crossing on the Metolius River to a signed point approximately 350 yards downstream. Try trolling faster or slower, deeper or shallower. The park consequently serves many more people with larger campgrounds, day-use picnic areas, boating facilities, as well as concession areas. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Fishing in Redmond, OR - Visit Redmond Oregon Kokanee used to be so easy to catch here that ODFW allowed anglers to keep 25 of them. Lake Billy Chinook is perhaps best known for its bull trout fishery. Laurance Lake. Often a dodger (sling blade or herring styles) is employed as an attractor instead of a set of flashers when using a downrigger. Potential record bull trout caught and released in Lake Billy Chinook If anyone is there Friday and sees a silver Alumaweld Columbia say hi. Most anglers this time of year at Lake Billy Chinook are . The Crooked River is back in shape after last weeks planned flow bump increase to encourage steelhead smolt to migrate to the fish trap at Lake Billy Chinook. Be sure to check the Fishing Regulations and Emergency Rules for this area. We have a full-length article featuring an experts tips about Lake Billy Chinook kokanee fishing. At Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes joins the Crooked and Metolius rivers. When Portland General Electric Company's Round Butte Dam was constructed near the confluence of the Crooked, Deschutes and Metolius rivers between 1961 and 1964, land exchanges were made with Portland General Electric, and the surplus released to the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Jefferson County. The reservoir is named after a Native American, Billy Chinook, of the . Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook (Area 4) All anglers are required to print and carry 2023 Fishing Permit Regulations Season-3-1 . Expect low and dirty water conditions. Turns out, it was a huge bull trout measuring 33.5 inches long with a 26-inch girth! It is roughly two and a half hours southeast of Portland and less than an hour north of Bend. Try a different color, different dodger or different bait. Icefishing in Korea! - My Korea Trip 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. We really didnt think about keeping it, we were so excited.. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE The reservoir is accessible and ice has melted. Most of the time adding bait to jig hooks is not necessary, but at times it is the difference in getting bites. Spring monitoring showed good numbers of trout in addition to the stocking in April. Following draining of Haystack Reservoir for maintenance, anglers should expect slow fishing until the reservoir can be restocked and fish populations rebound. Gonna have to try it again. Lake Billy Chinook is perhaps best known for its bull trout fishery. The Deschutes County Road Department closed the Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road for the winter season on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. They were good smoked! Accessable year round, 1 mile in length each way, moderatel difficulty, the trailhead is located at the Ranger booth in the Croooked River Campground and makes its way up to a scenic overlook along Mountain View Drive. Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Want to go Friday but dont want to waste 3 hours of driving to not even be able to get to the boat launch. Springs below Lower Bridge help to stabilize water levels, as does inflow from Whychus Creek. The current state record bull trout is 23 lbs., 2 ounces, and the world record is 32 lbs. Will only be fishing Friday. Early in the year, before the Metolius arm opens, look for fish in shallow shelves where they feed on aquatic insects, and out in open water. Last updated 3/29/23. Last updated 4/2623. Also see:Best Kokanee Fishing in Central OregonBest Kokanee Fishing in Oregon (Outside Central Oregon). Is the limit only 5 Kokanee? Small spoons, such as Luhr-Jensens Needlefish or Shasta Tackles Cripplure can be effective as times. The regs say 5 Kokanee in addition to 5 trout. Nymphing has been the most effective method. The river is open to fishing all year above Fall River Falls and open to fishing May 22 Sep 30 below the falls. From the trailhead to the top of the high platue the trail gains 600 feet in elevation and is moderately strenuous. Reopens to fishing April 22, 2023. The hike is a total of six miles round trip from the campground or seven miles from the Upper Deschutes day-use area trailhead. the other pink and black beads and gold blade spinner. At last check, the rules allowed anglers to keep five kokanee in addition to the daily trout limit. North and South Twin were stocked with trout in mid-August and trophy trout in late August. PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee, PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill. (2)An additional 5 kokanee are allowed. Last updated 4/19/23. 25039 Views 85 Replies 31 Participants Last post by Sugarsdaddy, Nov 25, 2021. During summer low flows, it swirls slowly past the same rocks. This time of year, most anglers at Lake Billy Chinook are . Wetland Nature Trail Loop: This flat -mile trail in the Crooked River Campground loops through an ongoing wetland restoration project at the site of a 2015 wildfire. Hey there, fishing fans! If you're seeing reports from local fly shops and guides please take some time to visit their shops or websites! Official websites use .gov A .gov Go back. Popular set-ups without a downrigger include the use of flashers such as Luhr-Jensens Ford Fenders or Cowbells or Macks Flash Lite as attractors. Open to fishing all year. Dig holes into the hard ice and fish for fresh trout as part of this hundred-year-old tradition. depth (ft) To depth map. Anglers may keep one bull trout at least 24 inches long as part of their limit. The Deschutes National Forest is planning to reconstruct the non-paved portion of Forest Road 16 through the spring and early summer, limiting access to Three Creeks Lake and the surrounding trailheads until July 21. SNOWYLAND Welcome to the only and unique Winter in Vivaldi Park, the SnowyLand! Sure seems like there are just as many if not more fish than I used to mark. Can you fish any of the Metolius arm without a tribal permit, or do you even need to bother with that arm? Lava Lake was last stocked with legal-size rainbow trout in June. (541) 416-6640 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. 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. The reservoir is currently 85 percent full. Its vast storehouse of mountain-fed river water helps provide the fairly consistent water source that helps nourish the amazing Deschutes River trout, steelhead and salmon fishing below the dams. A photo of the bull trout is available here:https://dfw.state.or.us/news/images/2023/041423_RyanMejaski_Bull_Trout_Lake_Billy_Chinook_April_2023.jpg. A chance to draw an additional deer, elk or pronghorn tag with a months-long season. United States. Fly Tying Videos byTightlines Productions, Photography Provided byBonnie MorelandRobson Hatsukami Morgan. Open seasonally (March through October). An official website of the Coordinates: 44.57480254, -121.32957766. In addtion to this, the area provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including red-winged blackbirds, and an outdoor classroom for local students to use for hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathmatics (STEM) projects. I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Open to fishing all year. More information: Bass Fishing: Simple How-To Techniques and Tips. Warm Springs tribal fishing permits, other information now offered . LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass. 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 fish was 33.5 inches long with a 26-inch girth and maxed out the fishing scale at 25 pounds. If you are coming from 3 hours away you will be going over roads much more likely to have bad conditions than the drop down to the lake. Other Permits 1 Day Permit, Areas 1-4 $ 17.00 per day. Pinks, oranges, greens, purple and reds are all good colors. I feel sorry for the guy that has never been loved by a dog! HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Limit is 2 fish per day. However, the agency also has noted that there are potential health concerns from eating too many bass due to naturally occurring mercury that builds up in longer-lived fish. Most of the public land is included in the Deschutes River Recreation Area within the Crooked River National Grasslands, administered by the Ochoco National Forest. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Lake Billy Chinook is popular water recreation destination. Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. Fishing at Lake Billy Chinook - Best Fishing in America They commented on the increased size of fish for this time of year. Fishing is best in between and around the boulders. Wickiup Reservoir will reopen April 22, 2023; however, reports of deep snow drifts and ice coverage may delay access. 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.