Lake Billy Chinook 2-1-05

I had caught the crude again on Fri. It seems like what I just got over two weeks ago and here it is again. The good news is that I was feeling good enough to go out with Kelly in his boat on Tues. This was our best outing this year so far. We accounted for 9 bulls to 10 lb. with 4 over 7 and the smallest was a dink that I caught way up the Crooked Arm. I use the word "we" loosely because besides the dink, I had a 5 lb. bull throw my lure around 1:00 p.m. and that was it for me. Kelly caught the lions share. We often do that...one or the other usually dominates the day.

We got out pretty early and the first bull came at 8:20. It was an 8 lb. fish that we released. For the next hour Steve stuck 4 bulls and then someone reached up and flipped the switch. Nothing until 11:15 when Steve hit a 5 lb. bull. We decided to head up the Crooked Arm to see what was happening there. The dink was all we managed besides a strike. After lunch we agreed to check out the Deschutes Arm as Steve was looking to burn some of that old stabilized gas he had in the boat since fall. It was pretty much a bust as well. We are not seeing any kokanee numbers like we have in the past.

After returning to the ramp area where we have been catching most of our fish this year, I hooked up on the 5 lb. fish that was my long distance release. You could just call me "net boy"today. Actually we have become big fans of the gripper/scales that several people have on the market. I have the Rapala 20 lb. model and Steve owns a Boga-grip 30 lb. model. The hot lure of the day turned out to be a custom painted (kokanee pattern) bomber lure that we had experimented with a few trips back. It caught all the fish. Steve has a prettier version but I had one as well. You wouldn't have known it by the results though. Part of my problem was I was playing chase with the downriggers and going after fish at 70 -110 feet. Steve left his up at 40-50 feet most of the day and you know the rest. One interesting side note, was the 3.5 lb. bull we caught. I was holding it for Steve to remove the hooks and we noticed the tail of a kokanee sticking out the gullet. Steve reached in with needlenose pliers and pulled out the headless, skinless orange body of a 7 in. kokanee. We see this more than you think. It helps your confidence for running those 7-9 in. lures we often do. Bull trout are very aggressive fish when it comes to eating.

The last two fish came at 5:00 and 5:15 and were the 3.5 lb. and a 10 lb. fish that was the biggest of the day. Fishing should be improving as we leave the full moon phase behind and head into the new moon. Look for a report on Crescent Lake early next week as I have to pick up a 27 lb. Laker that guide Steve Kroll has on ice from one of his clients this Fri. I should also have a report from some freinds that are up at Billy Chinook over the weekend.

Screamin' Drags, Rick