by Bob Johansen, May 13, 2013

CHAPMAN LAKE

SPOKANE COUNTY

145.6 surface acres Maximum Depth – about 160 feet Elevation – 2154 feet

Chapman Lake is located about 8 miles south from Cheney. It contains several species of fish including rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, crappie and sunfish.

ARSON SUSPECTED IN RESORT BLAZE

CHENEY WA. – An old fishing resort store was destroyed by fire and human remains believed to those of the 88 year-old owner were found Tuesday in the smoldering rubble, police said.
The fire that leveled the Chapman Lake Resort store could be a case of arson and homicide, Spokane County sheriff’s detectives said. O. C. “Ole” Dybdall, the store’s owner was missing and presumed killed in the blaze.

Old Ole was a very unique person. I really liked him. He never seemed to be very interested in money. I have seen paper money strewn around inside his store – even some on the floor. He only charged a dollar for camping and 50 cents for boat launching. I was, of course saddened by the newspaper article that appeared on March 29, 1990. I can’t imagine why anyone who liked to fish and camp would want to harm an old man like Ole.


1.Boat launching area at Ole’s Resort on Chapman Lake



2.Ole’s Resort on Chapman Lake

3. Sign posted at Ole’s Resort – Ole never seemed to care much about money.

PERSONAL NOTE:

I fished this lake 4 times and camped at Ole’s Resort. I caught several bass – both largemouth and smallmouth. None were very big. The biggest largemouth was only 14 ½ inches and the biggest smallmouth was only 12 inches. Both of these fish hit a white spinnerbait on June 15, 1989.


Bob Johansen, May 2013