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Day three - got to the lake at 6am, only person there and fish rising all over the place, water almost boiling. I frantically threw everything I had at them and no takers. About 7 they abruptly stopped (in that hour the water rose about 1', not sure if that had anything to do with it). Today I decided to be lazy, so I set up a spot, threw on some PB and spent the day listening to the turkeys on the opposite bank and enjoying the sunshine. Fished until 2pm and not even a nibble. I saw two 5+#-ers and two about 3# caught while I was there.
So, over three days the final talley was:
Friday, 2pm - 8pm - 1 fish, 5 lines in the water
Satureday, 8am-8pm - 7 fish (including mine), 10-12 lines in the water.
Sunday, 6am-2pm - 4 fish, 12-14 lines in the water.
All fish except mine caught plunking.
4 fish @5+#
Talked to a couple guys over the weekend, one said he hit the lake there about every other weekend year round, the other said every Sunday. Both said it has been a VERY slow year, the fish just aren't cooperating. I also talked to one boater who was asking how us bankies were doing - he said it was his 10th trip to Rufus and they have not caught a fish yet. So at least I know my lack of skills wasn't the only issue.
The whole weekend was clear skies, cold in the morning, cold breeze until about noon, then the breeze stopped and it got up to about 72. Wild Turkeys morning and evening, stars & Coyotes at night. I'll be back..
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Found the bed at the Motel to be really comfortable and so I slept in this morning. Didn't get down to the net pens until about 8am. Already 6 people there plunking PB but no fish on the shore yet. Started rotating through my gear again (see Friday's rpt). About 9am I picked up a 3# trip on a 2" rainbow Crocodile spoon. Fished another hour and started working my way downstream. About 12:30 it was getting warm so I headed back to the car to peel off the coats. There were 4 or 5 fish on the banks for the plunkers so fished up at the pens for a couple more hours, watched 2 more get caught - one nice 6-7# fish that took a guys drag (and almost his whole rig) for a run. About 3 I decided that I had held out long enough, packed up my stuff, headed back to the motel to put my fish in the freezer and pick up some PB. I didn't want to use it, but it was working so I conformed. Got back about 4, fished PB until 8 and only saw 1 other fish caught and not by me. OH well, I am in open space, I can breath, my phone is off, and the sun was bright. Went back to the Motel, took a shower, finished the beer and chips & Salsa and crash - life is good.
It is now 5am Sunday morning and I am heading out the door to hit it for a few more hours before heading back to the city. I'll post a report tonight....
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Wife and kid were at the in laws until next week and I needed a little break from work so I took the day off, packed the gear and the dog this morning and headed east.
Stopped at Coulee Playland to get a report and my 3 day tribal license, then secured a room at the Grand Coulee Center Motel. Older looking from the outside, but nice, clean, updated rooms. I got one with a king bed and kitchenette for $90 a nite ($10 per night for the dog). They also have a "fisherman's discount" rate I like that idea.
Got to the net pens about 2 - haven't been trout fishing in a long time so I took three rigs with me. A ultralight throwing spinners, a Med Light throwing spoons, and a float jig trying out some bug-like and "pellet" jigs I tied up last week in anticipation. There was one couple there packing up to leave when I got there, they had one fish - never talked to them so no details. I fished until 8pm rotating through my tackle and that is the only fish I saw the whole day. There were maybe 4 other people fishing around me - all plunking powerbait.
Oh well, hit Safeway on the way home and picked up chips, salsa & beer for dinner on the way back to the motel room (ahh, starting to remember the bachelor life) and called it a night.
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Forgot to post this one up... I wanted to post this as someone might have some more insight. Are these wild rainbows popular as far as catching goes? This definitely was not one of the triploids from this lake. Is this a common fish to pull from Rufus? Either way, I got this one shore fishing with marshmallow and worm, and it put up a heck of a fight. It also was the most beautiful trout I've ever caught. Roughly 26inch or so.
How is Rufus in the summertime? Anyone with insight please comment.
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We camped out along the river near the middle net pens. Brought plenty of firewood, had killer campfires and roasted Costco dogs. The fishing was really tough for us the first three days. Saturday we only got one trout, Sunday we got none. Monday evening we finally found some fish and figured out what they wanted. We hooked four, broke off two and landed two. Tuesday morning it snowed from 7:30 until about 9:00. We built a big campfire and ate breakfast, then were able to get our limit and be headed home a little after noon. Definitely a learning experience, but a great time!
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Put the boat in at the Corps launch above chief Joseph Dam around 0830, and headed up river. hit a couple spots on the lower end with no bites, and there were bank fishers in a couple other spots I usually hit, so headed on up to the lower most pens. I had put in a special request to JigMiester for some "Unscented" lures that he is now making so I could do the C&R. So Jiggie had made me up some unscented models of his Hot Lure selection. Well the fog was thick and the air temp in the middle 20s, so I was having to scrape ice from the windshield as I headed up the river. The fog lifted some about half way up to the pens, and it was good to see the wildlife. There were deer along the banks and eagles in the trees. The waterfowl were plentyfull also. When I got to the lowermost pens there was only one boat, on the shore side of the pens, so I motored over to the edge of the pen structure and dropped a jig over the side. No current at the time, so it was push the boat along with the trolling motor and mooch. I started out with Jiggies Minnow and had a couple of hits in the first 15 minutes or so, then BAM. Fish on. I was using a 7 foot UL with 4# line and I had a hot one on. No arial displays, but bent rod and screaming clutch. Finally got a nice 18-20 inch streamlined Rainbow to boatside. Unhooked it and watched it swim for the deeps. No other action for awhile, and was marking fish at the 20-30 foot range over 80 ft of water. Hooked up a brown and orange 1/8th oz jig on the 6# line outfit. Jiged for 20minutes or so and hooked into another fighter. This time I netted a nice 7# fatboy. No C&R for this badboy. Fished around the pens and came back to the front/river side of the pens without any hits. After no luck for awhile, I tied on a bright orange 1/8 oz jig. It was still no current so I was drifting upriver alongside the pens letting the breeze push me along. Finally got a tap tap, set the hook and the fight was on again. As it was getting around 1:30 or so, I decided to keep this one if I could get it to the net. A fat 5#er went into the cooler. Ended the day with 6-8 hits and three hookups, with two going into the cooler. Spoke with 3 other groups of fishermen/women and everyone was haveing a tough day, so I felt pretty lucky to be able to fillet a limit of Rufus Woods Fatboys. Can't wait for better fishing days to put JigMiester's lure to the test. Today was a tough day, but I endedr up with 4 hits on Jiggie's Lure, so I have High expectations. Tight lines and hungry fish.
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Quick trip to Rufus Woods to get our limits for the Smoker! Hit my lower lake spots to get Quick limits using Spoons and the Joe Fly. Back home early!!!! Smoker is loaded and Smoking away..Thanks Bobby for Catching with me! Tight Lines to All and Be Safe! Joe Heinlen - Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing GuideWL.com Official Sponsor, 509-393-9665
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Rufus Woods is still Kicking out limits of Nice Triploids for me in the lower basin between pumps 1 and 4. Trolling the Joe Fly and pitching Spoons is what works for me. Thanks so much to my Crew today...Tight lines to All and Be Safe! Joe Heinlen - Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing GuideWL.com Official Sponsor, 509-393-9665
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Rufus Woods Reservoir was outstanding catching for us today. We got into some real Slab Rainbow between Pumps 2 and 4 today! The Joe Fly caught the Big fish today at 9lbs. 1 oz. and the Spoons casting caught the most. Lost count on how many we boated at 16. The fish again were tight to the weed beds and the stomachs were stuffed with Snails. Thanks to my Guys today. Tight Lines to All and Be safe! Joe Heinlen - Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing GuideWL.com Official Sponsor, 509-393-9665
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We hit Rufus Woods today for some Triploid Rainbow Action. The Joe Fly and Spoons produced. We caught and released a bunch and ended with 3 person Limits!!!! We found fish hiding in the weed beds close to shore today between pumps 1 and 4..Thanks Shirley and Everett! Tight Lines to all and Be Safe!!! Joe Heinlen - Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing GuideWL.com Official Sponsor, 509-393-9665
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