I took a drive to Billy Clapp Lake to look at the water level. This is a great bet for trout fishing in the fall, and I wanted to see if I could still launch the Bob Feil Boats and Motors Smoker Craft Phantom. There was a vehicle and trailer in the parking area when I arrived, but it was obvious that the boat that was launched was a small one. The last section of the dock is still floating and there is still some concrete above the sandy bottom. If you are trying to launch a 20-footer, you could nose it up to the end of the dock. The fall trout bite can be good at times on Billy Clapp, and soon there will be anglers lining the shore near the boat ramp soaking Power Bait. This activity attracts a good crowd right up to when it freezes over. There are some big trout landed here. Billy Clapp is 13 miles from Soap Lake on Highway 28. I noticed that the Stratford Road Bridge is closed right now, so the short cut from Moses Lake isn’t an option. I will be soaking some bait myself at Billy Clapp this winter.