Wild Billy Lake

Listing Price: $4,105,000

Located in Klamath County, Oregon, Wild Billy Lake is situated along Oregon Pines Road north of the town of Beatty in southern Oregon's premier region for trophy fly fishing.  The ranch is approximately 50 minutes outside Klamath Falls, at the confluence of the Sprague and Sycan Rivers.  Klamath Falls, better known as Oregon's City of Sunshine due to its mild climate and 300 annual days of sunshine, provides commercial air service. Wild Billy Lake can also be reached by utilizing the private earthen runway located on the property. Along with the full selection of service and provisions in Klamath Falls, the scenic drive from Klamath Falls to the ranch offers several opportunities to shop and dine, including one restaurant and one convenient store in Beatty.  Elevation for Wild Billy Lake is 4,500 feet.

Wild Billy Lake is comprised of approximately 1,020 deeded acres with an approximately 200-acre natural lake fully enclosed within the property’s borders.  The property consists of Juniper and Ponderosa pine stands intermixed with sage brush perched on a basalt cliff bench that overlooks the Sycan River Valley and the remaining portion of the property.  This spectacular and private retreat is within close proximity to the Winema and Freemont National Forests.  The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness is also nearby and can be seen from the ranch.  The property contains 19 tax parcels and is predominantly zoned Forestry/Range (FR) with a minimum lot size of 80 acres.  The remaining acreage is zoned Non-Resource (NR).  Currently, modest improvements exist on the ranch; however, subject to Klamath County and Oregon State requirements, it may be possible to build additional homes on portions of the ranch.

Wild Billy Lake is a 200-acre trophy trout fishery fed by underground springs and intermittent streams. The flows into the lake are fairly consistent throughout the year and the lake fluctuates in depth from five to ten feet depending on the previous season’s snowpack.  Wild Billy Lake averages approximately 10 feet in depth, with maximum depths of 20 to 25 feet in the middle of the lake.  The lake contains 2.4 miles of accessible shoreline and is navigable by drift boat, pram, canoe, belly boat or motor boat.  In addition, the property contains Brown Springs, one of the largest springs feeding the Sycan River.  Large German brown trout often travel up Brown Springs to spawn in the fall.  Brown Springs also attracts a large quantity of waterfowl during fall migration.

If your ideal fishing experience involves stillwater fishing for trout and landlocked steelhead up to 12 pounds, look no further.  Operated as a fly-fishing lodge, trophy trout up to 30” long live and thrive in Wild Billy Lake.  The fish include Mt. Lassen rainbow trout, Kamloops rainbow trout and Donaldson steelhead.  The trout fishing is typical of a classic stillwater fishery; fish feed on typical fare such as scud and leech patterns as well as rise to dry fly patterns due in part to the healthy aquatic insect population supported by the lake.  The optimal period for fishing on the property is from April through November and because of its privacy, is not regulated by the state by a fishing season like all of the other streams and public lakes in the Klamath region.  During the period between late April and late-October, Wild Billy Lake provides the ideal fishing experience for the seasoned angler; clear sunny days combined with clouds of bugs and water teeming with hungry trophy trout, all the requisite ingredients for a fishing experience never to be forgotten.

Wild Billy Lake has been operating as a fly-fishing, barbless hook fishing operation with a large list of returning clients each year.  The operation is hands-off and requires very little management.  Current landowners all live several hours away and are not on the property when guests are present.  The property is fully supported by the income generation from the fishing operation and has a net annual income of $43,000.

With approximately 2.4 miles of shoreline and a 200-acre natural lake, Wild Billy Lake is the ideal fishing retreat for the discerning stillwater angler.  The lake is one of the largest privately-held lakes in the state of Oregon and offers the future owner a wide range of recreational opportunities with big game hunting, waterfowl hunting and trophy trout fishing.  Comprised of approximately 1,020 deeded acres within close proximity to over 2.3 million acres of public lands, Wild Billy Lake is a private fishing and hunting haven with an endless array of possibilities for the outdoor enthusiast.