Lake Billy Chinook Fishing
A 3,852-acre Oregon reservoir in Jefferson County.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Getting your bearings on Lake Billy Chinook
Summed by GNIS name, the outline pieces of Lake Billy Chinook come to around 3,852 acres in Jefferson County. Its boat access is managed by Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Portland General Electric. The nearest Census place is Culver, about 9 miles off.
Boaters can pick from 5 open launch sites on the OSMB map. The 2026 booklet prints 9 water-specific rules for it. It sits in the Central Zone tables.
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
Fish to chase at Lake Billy Chinook
ODFW maps these fish as using Lake Billy Chinook; a mapped species is habitat use, not a catch report.
Habitat records behind Lake Billy Chinook
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgelip sucker | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Brown trout | unknown | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Chiselmouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Largescale sucker | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | UndocObsFish |
| Redband trout | rearing | unknown | IndivProfOpinion |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Sockeye | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Summer steelhead | rearing | native non local | DocObsFish |
| Threespined stickleback | unknown | native non local | DocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
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- BLM Beach Boat-in Campsite launch on Lake Billy Chinookhand carry launch; hand launch; Bureau of Land Management
- Cove Palisades – Crooked River boat ramp on Lake Billy Chinook4 lanes, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted; parking, restrooms, use fee, short-term tie-up, marina; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; OSMB note: Crooked River Day Use and Upper Deschutes Day Use are open year-round. Water levels …
- Cove Palisades – Upper Deschutes boat ramp on Lake Billy Chinook2 lanes, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted; parking, restrooms, use fee, non-motorized boats only; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; OSMB note: Crooked River Day Use and Upper Deschutes Day Use are open year-round. Water levels …
- Perry South Day Use boat ramp on Lake Billy Chinook1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Portland General Electric
- Three Rivers Marina on Lake Billy Chinook3 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, short-term tie-up, fuel; Private
Cove Palisades – Lower Deschutes boat ramp on Lake Billy Chinook and Cove Palisades Marina on Lake Billy Chinook: closed per OSMB.
More launches close to Lake Billy Chinook
- Pelton Park on Lake SimtustusLake Simtustus, 9 miles northeast
- West Shore Ramp on Haystack ReservoirHaystack Reservoir, 12 miles southeast
- Haystack Campground Day Use boat rampHaystack Reservoir, 13 miles southeast
- Warm Springs State Recreation Site boat ramp on Deschutes RiverDeschutes River (Lower), 14 miles northeast
- Mecca Flat Campground boat ramp on Deschutes RiverDeschutes River (Lower), 15 miles northeast
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Water level at Lake Billy Chinook
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Billy Chinook Near Culver, Or | 1,942.37 ft lake elevation | Nov 5 5:15 am |
| Lake Billy Chinook Near Grandview, Or | 1,942.33 ft lake elevation | Nov 5 5:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 5:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
This panel for Lake Billy Chinook updates from the USGS gauge.
Bag limits that apply at Lake Billy Chinook
Lake Billy Chinook appears in the Central Zone section of the 2026 booklet.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 22 – Oct 31, unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead | In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jack salmon per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession, with the exception that one additional hatchery steelhead may be retained per day for a total. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Whit. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
How the rules at Lake Billy Chinook differ from the zone
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Billy Chinook (Metolius Arm – East boundary is a line running from the west abutment of Round Butte Dam to the southern land point wher | Open Mar 1 – Oct 31. | p. 53 | |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Metolius Arm – East boundary is a line running from the west abutment of Round Butte Dam to the southern land point wher | All regulations for the balance of the reservoir (below) apply. | p. 53 | |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Metolius Arm – East boundary is a line running from the west abutment of Round Butte Dam to the southern land point wher | Tribal angling permits are required. See the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs information. | p. 53 | |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Metolius Arm – East boundary is a line running from the west abutment of Round Butte Dam to the southern land point wher | Closed to all angling from the cable car crossing on the Metolius River to markers downstream. | p. 53 | |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Balance of reservoir) | bull trout | Trout limit may include 1 bull trout, 24 inch minimum length. | p. 53 |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Balance of reservoir) | bull trout | All bull trout not retained in the bag limit must be released immediately unharmed. | p. 53 |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Balance of reservoir) | sockeye, kokanee, salmon, trout | Rainbow trout over 20 inches and kokanee/ sockeye salmon over 16 inches must be released. | p. 53 |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Balance of reservoir) | brown trout, bass | No limit on size or number of bass or brown trout. | p. 53 |
| Lake Billy Chinook (Balance of reservoir) | Stream regulations apply above ODFW markers on Crooked River and Deschutes River Arms. | p. 53 |
Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them.
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Central Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
State-record fish caught at Lake Billy Chinook
| Species | Weight | Water as printed | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Bull | 23 lb 2 oz | Lake Billy Chinook | Don Yow | 1989 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Where Lake Billy Chinook ranks among close lakes
Of the five closest Oregon lakes with pages, Lake Simtustus is the largest at about 553 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Billy Chinook | 3,852 | reservoir | 5 | 0 | |
| Lake Simtustus | 9 miles northeast | 553 | reservoir | 1 | 0 |
| Pelton Regulating Reservoir | 11 miles northeast | 164 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Haystack Reservoir | 12 miles southeast | 219 | reservoir | 2 | 0 |
| Willow Creek Reservoir (Jefferson County) | 20 miles east | 15 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Suttle Lake | 22 miles southwest | 265 | lake | 0 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
What surrounds Lake Billy Chinook for anglers
Other still water within reach of Lake Billy Chinook
- Lake Simtustus9 miles northeast
- Pelton Regulating Reservoir11 miles northeast
- Haystack Reservoir12 miles southeast
- Willow Creek Reservoir (Jefferson County)20 miles east
- Suttle Lake22 miles southwest
Shops for roe, worms and spinners near Lake Billy Chinook
- Three Rivers Marinamarina, Culver, under a mile
- Bi-Mart (Madras)sporting goods store, Madras, 12 miles
- Brads Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Madras, 12 miles
- The Fly Fisher's Placebait and tackle shop, Sisters, 22 miles
- Bi-Mart (Sisters)sporting goods store, Sisters, 22 miles
- Cent Wise Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Redmond, 24 miles
Towns within striking range of Lake Billy Chinook
- Culver9 miles
- Madras11 miles
- Crooked River Ranch12 miles
County pages that include Lake Billy Chinook
- Jefferson Countyseat: Madras
What Piscifun sells for a day spent on Lake Billy Chinook
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Picture key to the fish of Lake Billy Chinook
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Reclamation, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Lake Billy Chinook: what Oregon anglers want to know
How do I locate Lake Billy Chinook on an Oregon map?
You will find it in Jefferson County, about 9 miles from Culver.
Is Lake Billy Chinook large water?
Close to 3,852 acres on the NHD outline.
How many OSMB launches reach Lake Billy Chinook?
BLM Beach Boat-in Campsite launch on Lake Billy Chinook is among 5 launch sites OSMB maps.
What species does ODFW map in Lake Billy Chinook?
Named species: bridgelip sucker, brown trout, chiselmouth, largemouth bass, largescale sucker, northern pikeminnow and rainbow trout.
What may an Oregon angler keep from Lake Billy Chinook?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum. Read the exception table as well.
Does a visitor from out of state need an Oregon license at Lake Billy Chinook?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Is shore fishing possible at Lake Billy Chinook?
No mapped shore site sits on it; launch areas and parks may allow bank fishing.
Where do Oregon anglers buy gear for Lake Billy Chinook?
Stop at Three Rivers Marina, under a mile away.
Is Lake Billy Chinook full?
A reading sits in the level band.
Which record lists Lake Billy Chinook?
Trout, Bull, 23 lb 2 oz, by Don Yow (1989).
Plan a morning on Lake Billy Chinook
Licenses, endorsements and water exceptions are on the regulations page.