Lake Billy Chinook 3-22-05

Mark Burford, who watches over our I.R.A.'s and mutual funds at Edward Jones joined me this last Tues. for a guided trip. We started out in the dam area just to get a different look than the island drill. Of course I knew we would end up there before the day was through. On the first pass along the shore flatlining we hooked up on a dink and the ice was broken.

After nothing else in that general area, we decided to head in the direction of Chinook Island to hit the spot. Right away Mark was fast into a nice 6 lb. bull and we were rolling. One of the highlights of the day occurred while I was setting up to do some deeper downrigging in an area where we could see a lot of kokanee working the top. While I was getting ready to put the line in the release on the rigger, I could feel the rod throbbing at the tip as a fish had hooked up before I could get the set down. We were in 178 feet of water. Turned out to be our biggest bull of the day. A real nice hook jaw male of 8.5 lb. Unfortunately my camera was acting up and Mark didn't have his so we have nothing to show for it but great memories.

All in all, we hooked and landed 8 bulls with the biggest 4 going 4,6,7and 8.5 lb. Most of the fish came in the general area of the Island and were picked up on J-13 Rapala's and some other lures that I will keep quiet for now. Another highlight was pulling an 8 in. kokanee out of the gullet of the 7 lb. bull......it was really fresh. We have seen a lot of this so far this season.

My next trip is tomorrow so look for another report early next week. Next Wed. I will be taking the fish biologist from PGE for a half dayer. I'm really looking forward to fishing with Scott Lewis....that should be an interesting report.

On another note, look for my upcoming article in Salmon, Trout, and Steelheader titled "Bull Trout Bonanza" in the April edition.

Tight Lines, Rick