Every March 1st I find myself and some friends at the local opener of Lake Billy Chinook. This is a rather large reservoir that holds the State record bull trout of over 26lbs. The bull trout being a Char can and does get to immense proportions, but it's been a long time since anyone has broken twenty pounds. This fishery is now managed as a Trophy fishery with anglers being allowed to keep only one over 24 inches.
Most anglers practice catch and release.
We're starting to see a steady improvement in the fishery as a whole. This is a self-propagating fishery of native fish. Ten pounds is considered a Trophy from these waters, but there are some real bruisers around. This year's opener was a blast. Almost everyone tied into a number of fish.