We were fortunate not to have snow and wind today but man was it a cold one.  Scott Robertson, Paul Snowbeck and I headed for Lake Billy Chinook around 8 AM.  We took the drive slow because Scott’s truck thermometer wouldn’t budge from the 28° mark.  Despite the slow drive, eventually we arrived and launched into the calm but freezing lake.

The animals were out and about.  As we eased our way on the lake, we saw plenty of deer.  Birds of prey hovered the cliffs.  And as Paul made his first few casts, a group of wild horses gathered for water.  There was something in the air that indicated all animals were feeding.  This would include the bull trout.

It didn’t take long for us to connect.  First Paul rolled a beast of a bull trout on a large streamer he tied.  A minute later I had a double.  My smaller bull shook the hook but the larger one broke off my dropper.  I rarely get broke off on my preferred 0X Fluoro but it was true.  My leader has caught a lot of fish this week and perhaps I should have tested everything.  Too late.  I rerigged and got back in the ring.

It didn’t take long to hook up again.  I landed the stout bull and over the next few hours, Paul, Scott and I landed five good sized over-powering bull trout.  Our fishing was awesome!

We kept working the same shoreline of the lake over and over.  You know the old saying, “never leave fish to find fish”.  Eventually the action halted and we took Paul to the best spot Scott and I have found on Billy.  I ran the boat while Paul and Scott hammered away at more bulls.  They weren’t as big but we caught a bunch.  And unlike me, Scott hooked and landed a bull trout double!

We fished a full day today despite the cold.  The fishing was superb.  My body feels it though.  Not only my shoulder but I’ve also picked up a cold.  It was bound to happen after all the shows and gigs I’ve done.  We’ll take it easy tomorrow.  Tomorrow I speak to Central Oregon Fly Fishers in the evening.

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing