When I left Rocky Ford Creek last week, I went to check on Billly Clapp Reservoir. When I last visited Billy Clapp, there was a large number of anglers fishing from the shore and one boat had launched from the sandy beach. Things had changed since then. We had that spell of very cold weather, and that put a solid layer of ice one the lake. Apparently, the ice was never thick enough to temp anglers out on it though. I saw no evidence of holes being drilled in the ice. Now it’s a waiting game. Anglers are going to be eager to see the ice leave the surface of Billly Clapp. It often offers terrific fishing for rainbow trout in the early spring. I have had some great days out here, fishing from small boats launched from the sandy beach. Some years the rainbow will average14 to16 inches, and we had a blast trolling Rapalas and Flicker Shads behind the boat. We will usually start just above the big basalt island that is a distance from the public access and often have our best luck on along the eastern shore. Man, I can’t wait for the ice to clear off Billy Clapp!