Lake Billy Chinook
lake in Oregon
Known for productive trolling and fly fishing for kokanee and trout, the lake's canyon walls and points concentrate baitfish and gamefish in summer and fall.
Bull Trout fishing remains a prime pursuit
- 01Bull Trout fishing remains a prime pursuit, with these elusive predators actively feeding as they prepare for or engage in spawning in the Metolius River and its tributaries. Focus on the Metolius Arm for potentially larger fish.
- 02Kokanee salmon are a consistent target this time of year, with reports from other similar waterbodies indicating they are readily taking mysis shrimp and chironomid imitations fished deep.
- 03Smallmouth Bass, though often smaller in size, will still be actively feeding on crayfish and baitfish in the Deschutes and Crooked arms, and the main body of the lake.
- 04Juvenile salmonid smolts (Sockeye, Steelhead, Chinook) are still present in the lake, providing a forage base for larger predatory species, especially around the Selective Water Withdrawal structure where their movements are influenced by increased nighttime discharge.
Past reports week by week
12 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Comet
The Comet streamer is a well-known attractor pattern for Steelhead, particularly effective during the fall and winter months as they migrate or stage.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall is the egg season, and this pattern effectively imitates the eggs of spawning salmon and trout, making it highly attractive to Kokanee, Steelhead, and other opportunistic fish.
Buy at AmazonCrappie Jig Fly
Crappie remain active around structure in the fall, and this jig fly is specifically designed to entice strikes from these panfish, imitating small baitfish or invertebrates.
Buy at AmazonArticulated Streamer (Drunk Sculpin)
Bull Trout are actively feeding in the fall, and large streamers imitating baitfish or sculpins are highly effective for these aggressive predators, especially when stripped through deep runs.
Buy at AmazonMysis Shrimp
Mysis shrimp are a consistent and abundant food source in Lake Billy Chinook year-round. This pattern is crucial for Kokanee and opportunistic trout/bull trout, fished dead drift near the bottom.
Buy at AmazonJuJu Chironomid
Chironomid pupae are a key food source for Kokanee in stillwater environments like Lake Billy Chinook during the fall. Fish this pattern under an indicator for best results.
Buy at AmazonCrayfish (Fly)
Crayfish are a primary food source for Smallmouth Bass in the rocky areas of Lake Billy Chinook. This subsurface pattern is particularly effective in the fall when bass are still actively foraging.
Buy at AmazonBlack Woolly Bugger
A versatile streamer, the black Woolly Bugger imitates leeches and sculpins, which are active in cooling fall waters. It's a high-searching pattern for Bull Trout and Smallmouth Bass.
Where to fish and who to ask
Paniolo Point / Cove Flats
Productive flats and points for sight-casting to cruising kokanee and trout; good early morning/late evening fishing.
Shoreline at Cove Park / Round Butte Exit
Common launch and access area for boat-based fly or trolling trips targeting kokanee and rainbow trout.
Fly shops within 40 miles
River Borne Outfitters
Deschutes River Fly Shop & Camp
River Borne Outfitters
The Fly Fisher's Place
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Oregon season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Lake Billy Chinook.
What flies work best on Lake Billy Chinook?
Our top scored fly patterns for Lake Billy Chinook right now are Comet (80% confidence), Blood Dot Egg (80% confidence), Crappie Jig Fly (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Lake Billy Chinook?
Lake Billy Chinook holds Kokanee, Steelhead, Crappie. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Lake Billy Chinook fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Lake Billy Chinook each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.