by Dave Graybill, January 01, 2002

It’s January 2, 1999, and the first fishing trip of the year. At about 11 a.m., the first bite of the season and the first fish—a 16-pound rainbow. Not many fishing seasons begin this way, but when fishing at Rufus Woods Lake it’s really no big deal. Well, actually it is pretty exciting catching a trout of this size, but this impoundment on the Columbia River produces lots of them.

In 1998 Rufus Woods was where the new state record of 25 pounds, .45 ounces was landed and more than one exceeding 20 pounds is taken every year now. Fish in the teens are common and fish in the 7-pound to 10-pound class are taken with regularity. Where do all these big fish come from, and why did this trophy water develop seemingly overnight?

Well, it didn’t exactly happen overnight and the beginning of this trophy fishery can be pinpointed to within a month. Where all these behemoths came from can be pinpointed as well.

The trout being taken here at Rufus Woods are technically "triploids" and are different from other trout species. All animal and trout species have two chromosomes or genes, and are "diploid", but the trout that grow to such huge dimensions at
Rufus Woods have three—therefore triploid. The process of creating such a fish involves taking fertilized eggs and them exposing them to heat or pressure. All of this is an extremely simple explanation of a very complicated procedure.

Another important distinction of triploids is that they are sterile and cannot reproduce. This is a critical factor to note for anglers. It makes it possible for these fish to be raised and then released into environments with other species without the threat of diluting or complicating other gene pools.

Triploids grow at a very accelerated rate. This is due to the fact that most fish expend a great deal of their energy developing the equipment for procreation as they reach the sexual maturity. Triploids are sterile, so all their energy goes into growth.

The whole development of Rufus Woods as a trophy fishery began in May of 1995. At a point some 16 miles down river from Grand Coulee Dam, where a set of cages (called net pens by the locals) was damaged. An angler tore a hole in one of the nets and over 10,000 of these fish escaped into this impoundment on the Columbia River.

Fishing Holes actually published an article about the big trout being caught on Rufus Woods in 1993. This writer visited the first pen site with one to try to get one of these big fish way back then. There had been some escapement prior to May of 1995, but only the locals were aware of presence of huge trout in Rufus Woods at that time. But they were few and far between then. When this writer visited the pen site in December of 1993 there wasn’t another boat on the water or anglers on the shore. The same site is a busy place now.

The triploids that now inhabit Rufus Woods are reared at another site that is well known to anglers before they are delivered to the net pens. Trout Lodge is the company that operates the hatchery that rears the triploids and is located on Rocky Ford, is a quality water that is also famous for big fish. There is an upper and lower hatchery on Rocky Ford, which is near Soap Lake. Trout Lodge keeps Rocky Ford full of big rainbow to the delight of fly anglers, and since the hatchery facility is on state land the lease is often paid in fish rather than cash. According to Bill Witt, of Trout Lodge, 140,000 triploids were provided to the state in exchange for the lease payment last year. The fish were released in eight or ten Grant County lakes and some other quality waters, including Lake Chopaka in Okanogan County.

Trout Lodge provides several hundred thousand fish to Columbia River Farms, which operates two of the three net pens on Rufus Woods. Chief Joseph Orchards also has a net pen on Rufus Woods (referred as the third or lower pen by locals), but it currently contains no fish.

According to Ed Schallenberger, general manager of the Columbia River Fish Farms operation, they grow about a half-million fish or two-and-a-half million pounds each year. Through a wholesaler the fish are distributed to a variety of customers. Some of the fish, which are typically raised to a weight of 5 or 6 pounds, go to restaurants. Some are sold to super markets and others to the Japanese market. Still others are sold to the Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department and some sports clubs and associations for planting in reservation or state waters.

Last year the tribe purchased $10,000.00 worth of triploids, which translated into about 4,600 fish and released them into Twin Lakes on reservation land. The fish ranged from 12 to 14 inches and weighted up to 2 plus pounds apiece. They also received seven "hogs" to spice the fishery. At least one 10-pounder has been taken so far this season. The tribe also spent another $10,000.00 and released these triploids right back into Rufus Woods Lake.

One of the sports organizations that took advantage of the availability of triploid stocks is the Lake Chelan Sportsmans Council. They were able to purchase a couple of truckloads at a very special price and had them released into Lake Chelan. Several other Chelan County lakes also received plants of triploids, usually numbering about 500 per lake, and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife is monitoring the results of a plant in Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin Valley.

The state legislature approved funding last year for additional purchase of private hatchery raised fish. The bill that was passed provides a budget of $400,000.00 for this program. Just how much of this budget must be dedicated to transportation and administration is yet to be determined.

There could be some preference to planting triploids in quality, or selective fishery waters. Under these rules most fish are caught and released. The benefit here is that the fish have a chance to grow to their potential. These fish are capable of growing as large as the state record in about three years. This could mean a whole bunch of trophy fisheries here in Washington in a short period of time.

The problem with plants that have been done in typical put-and-take lakes is that the triploids have been taken out pretty quickly. The fish tend to be aggressive and when an angler lands one of these fat fish and compares it to the others on the stringer, it is difficult to throw it back in hopes of catching it later when it has grown up a bit. One theory is the larger the body of water the better the chance of some of these fish reaching their potential growth of 25 pounds or more.

Whatever the plans are for the future and for other waters in the state, presently there is a very large and very healthy population of triploids available in Rufus Woods Lake right now. They are ready and waiting for anglers and are spread out throughout the 50-mile long reservoir. There have been reports of the fish being identified as far down river as Rock Island Dam.

So how does an angler plan an attack?

There are two approaches to Rufus Woods available to anglers year-round. There is a launch just above Chief Joseph Dam at Bridgeport and another at the top end of the reservoir just below Elmer City. There are other launches during the spring and summer months, such as the State Park at Bridgeport, but it closes during the winter. The other is on the Timm Ranch and an unimproved road leads to a rough launch that can service smaller boats. In the winter this road varies in condition from hair-raising to treacherous. It may save an angler a sixteen-mile boat ride, but it may cost the same angler his boat and truck if he tries this one at the wrong time.

Rufus Woods is over 50 miles from the bottom at Bridgeport to the top at Grand Coulee Dam, and although there are fish caught from one end to the other, many anglers prefer to fish right at the pens. This means a wind-chilling run of over 30 miles from the launch at Bridgeport in the winter, but many anglers do it all the time. The other option is the launch at Elmer City, which puts you about 16 miles upriver from the first pen. It really boils down to which direction you’re coming from and how fast and comfortable a boat you’re driving.

An advantage to approaching Rufus Woods from Bridgeport is that if the weather conditions are nasty there are plenty of fish taken right here. The dam here is the end of the line for fish that wander down river, and a fish over 21 pounds was taken within site of the launch. The launch here is also excellent. Sand is provided for icy days and there is a very large dock to handle the number of boats that use it year-round. There is a large, paved parking lot here, too.

The area just above the dam is also very popular with shore-bound anglers. Rufus Woods is a Corps of Engineers project, and the Corps has added a lot of amenities to this site in recent years. In addition to the work on the dock and launch, they have created shore fishing areas complete with picnic tables, fireboxes (bring your own wood), and even a handicapped fishing platform. This spot is only about two miles from the town of
Bridgeport where hot meals, gas and other supplies are available.

Since we’re at the shore-fishing site, let’s talk about how these anglers go about it. Once they’ve got the fire going and have their tackle prepared, this is usually the tactic. A slip-sinker rig with a pretty hefty egg sinker above the swivel. There is a varying amount of current here, but it isn’t very deep. About two to three fee of leader is common and adequate with at least a size 10 bait hook on the business end. This hook is usually dressed with an ample amount of Power Bait. Nightcrawlers are also popular baits, and some anglers use an egg and mallow combination or corn.

One technique that became popular when the steelhead runs were booming at Pateros is the slip bobber rig. This seems to be employed most often where the current eddies or when flows are slow. The bobber is adjusted for depth and the hook or marabou jig is baited with shrimp or roe. This rig does allow an angler to cover more water and has been known to be very productive at times. A popular place to fish this set up is right above the dam in the channel. Trout of all sizes will pull down the bobber and even silvers are caught with this method. It should be noted that silvers at Rufus Woods commonly reach 3 pounds.

This set up is then tossed out into the current and allowed to settle to the bottom and stick. The bottom here is pretty kind to shore anglers, but baits must be checked with some frequency for weeds. Rods are stuck in rocks or rod holders or even attached to the picnic tables. Then the waiting begins. Tall tales around the fireboxes and some even retreat to their cars to keep warm listen to the football game, and since the rods are just few yards away it’s not a bad vantagepoint.

When anyone gets a bite everyone gets in on the action. Anticipation is high, as the hooked fish could be anywhere from a couple pounds to a real trophy. Fish to at least 17 pounds have been landed from these shore-fishing locations. Some days the bites come with good regularity and others it’s a long wait in between rod bounces.

Many of the same methods used from the shore at Bridgeport are also used in the vicinity of pens. People fish from the shore on Colville Reservation side of the reservoir, and a tribal permit must be purchased to do this, and the shore fishing area is very limited.

Those who have traveled by boat to the pens will either anchor close to them or troll near them. The same baits that are fished from shore are used from the anchored boats and it should be noted that the water is deeper at the pens than at the dam at the south end of the reservoir.

Trollers try a tremendous variety of lures here. Every boat is probably dragging a different rig—on every rod! A few that a known producers start with wobbling spoons such as Needlefish. Wedding Ring spinners also account for fish, as do plugs. Rapalas are high on the list with those who troll plugs here, but large Flatfish and even Double Whammys and Spin N Glos are used.

The 16-pounder mentioned at the beginning of this article was caught on a Swimmer Tail. It was rigged about four feet behind a kokanee dodger and a drop lead rig with a 3-ounce sinker. It was taken in the bay across from the lower pen in about 40 feet of water.

There are three pens in this area of the reservoir, but only two hold fish. It should be mentioned that anglers that fish from the shore here and reach the bay opposite the third or lowest pen by road due so with the tolerance of the landowners. Respect for this property should be shown for the benefit of all anglers. There also have been "accidents" at the pens. Columbia River Fish Farms, who are directly responsible for this trophy fishery, should also be shown respect and their operation free from vandalism, tying to their buoys and other unnecessary intrusions.

Fishing on Rufus Woods isn’t in any way limited to the area of the pens or the shore at the dam. There are numerous attractive bays, bends and banks throughout the reservoir, and all have the potential of holding fish. One other area that attracts significant numbers of anglers, and for good reason, is the buoy line right above the dam.

On any given day of the year anglers can be seen patiently trolling back and forth along this buoy line. Prior to the advent of the pen fishery, this was the place to fish. Good catches of what the locals call "native" rainbow to 4 pounds and better are taken here with good frequency. This is a great producer of silvers, and of course the triploids also cruise this spot.

Rufus Woods is popular in summer of course. There is a great State Park at Bridgeport with an excellent launch and even a golf course. Boat camping is a popular activity, too, but due to the north shore being on reservation land and the south many times part of a large ranch not many really take advantage of it. What’s really surprising is the number of people who fish Rufus Woods in the winter. The close of steelheading has much to do with this, and when hunting seasons wind down the number of anglers here really picks up, in spite of the chilly weather.

To reach Rufus Woods from the Seattle area, take either Highway 2 over Stevens Pass or I-90 to Wenatchee. Take Highway 97 north past Chelan, Pateros, and Brewster and on to Bridgeport. You will see Chief Joseph Dam as you cross the Columbia River and the road to the fishing area and launch is to the left just after you cross this bridge.

Those who are interested in lodging in the area can call the Brewster Chamber of Commerce at (509) 689-3589. Brewster is just eight miles south of Bridgeport. If you plan to use the launch at Elmer City near Grand Coulee Dam, call the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-268-5332.

A good source of local information on conditions at Rufus Woods as well as tackle suggestions and even a map of the access, call Coulee Playland in Electric City and ask for Dave. Their phone number is (509) 633-2671.

Trophy rainbow are caught at Rufus Woods pretty much year-round, but when most other activities grind to a halt the allure of catching huge fish attracts anglers from all over the state. There are no guarantees in fishing, and some days here are better than others, but the odds of catching the biggest rainbow trout in an angler’s life are better here than anywhere else in Washington State.