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4:00 in the AM, Eyes wide open and restless. I roll over and close my eyes anyway, dozing off and on till 5:30, and she says, "are ya ready for coffee"? As the old saying goes, When Mama don't sleep, Nobody sleeps". But it was a good cup of joe, and after coffee, we put the gear together for a run to Rufus Woods. Temp in the lower 30s, fog, but no ice on the roads. We launched the boat at Cheif Joe around 8-8:30, and made a run up to the pens. Nice current, not too strong, but moving the water along nicely. I would say we jigged vertically, but with the current and 1/16oz jigs, it was somewhere between vertical jigging, and stationary trolling (is there a such thing). I started out with the B-2 on a 1/8 oz jig head with no hits. I changed to a 1/16oz and put on one of "Uncle Walt's" Mini tube skirts in red metal flake. I rig with two tubes. I spilt the body up to almost the head end of the jig. This I thread on as you normally would. Then I take an unaltered one and put it on after the split one, and slide it up to the head part of the first. This make side "wings ou to the skirt of the split one. (will try to post some pics on the blog later. This is the second time I have used this particular color of mini tube, and it has worked both times. Only place I have found them is at Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee. The short and skinny is 3 of our 4 fish were caught with these mini tubes. Cindy was using her usual minnow imitations, with no luck. After I landed my first one (8# 1oz) she reeled in and changed her presentation. We fished for about 10 mins and cindy was getting hits, but no hook-ups. Finally I hear, Fish ON. Her yellow Rod was bent down nicely, and since my bait is back in the general area, I decide to crank in and give her a hand with the net. Just as I started to crank it in I snagged up. Grrrrrr I hate to loose tacke, but sometimes it happens, Cindy's reel clutch is sounding off, Wait...... I feel a head shake. I got one too. It was our first double of the year. No worries, Mine feels reluctant to come up, but it is following the boat nicely. (Because of all the cable, chains, and ropes anchoring the pen system, when we hook one I try to move the boat out away from the underwater line hazards). All of a sudden my reel clutch is competing with cindy's and we have two nicely bent rods. When the fish come into view, I feel a little excited. I've got a nice one on, but cindy's is OK too. So I just get mine in the net, and Cindy worked her's over to my side of the boat and I netted it also. Two fish in the net. WOW. Ends up over 21# of fish in the net. Mine weighed in at 11# 11oz, and her's was 9# 10oz. That's fish # 2 for me, but it's early. I set my rod out of the way, Sip on a cup of coffee, and maintained boat positioning for about 5 min, and Fish on. Cindy has her second one hooked up. She plays it down, and it's in the net, It weighed in at 10# 6oz. Our four fish limit and it not even11:00 yet.
The fish were biting extremly softly, and was difficult to feel the hit, and constantly being able to feel the jig was helpful. I only got two bite today, but it was enough. I caught the first fish, the first limit, the largest (weight wise), and also the smallest. It sure felt good. Cindy wasn't complaining either, she had a limit of nice trout. As we were breaking down to head out, Charly H. (from the WL gang) pulls up. He and his fishing partner, Mike, were out for a day on the water. It was nice to meet Charly and Mike. Thanks guys for stopping by and saying hello.
Got the fish from today in the bine getting ready to smoke. Mmmmmmm good..stay safe and get out when you can. Stay safe.

Xwisconyfisherman

1/16/2010 10:52:00 AM

Like always blufin im in Aww reading your reports. Keep up the good work and tigh lines

dave g

1/16/2010 1:09:00 PM

dang lewis, you really got me chomping at the bitts to get over there and fish. really looking forward to the chance of some of those double digit fatboys. great report as always. i'm getting together some new jigs (as per your blog and reports) and am hoping to get them wet over there probably tuesday or wednesday, depending when i get my truck back from the shop. thanks for all the great info and maybe we can cross lines over that way. by the way, how was the ramp at chief jo? i'll probably put in at seatons, but ya never know.

dave g

1/16/2010 1:10:00 PM

dang lewis, you really got me chomping at the bitts to get over there and fish. really looking forward to the chance of some of those double digit fatboys. great report as always. i'm getting together some new jigs (as per your blog and reports) and am hoping to get them wet over there probably tuesday or wednesday, depending when i get my truck back from the shop. thanks for all the great info and maybe we can cross lines over that way. by the way, how was the ramp at chief jo? i'll probably put in at seatons, but ya never know.

Toni

1/16/2010 1:46:00 PM

Awesome report and I am in awe of the fish you two are catching.

Kahuna

1/16/2010 7:18:00 PM

NICE FISH!!! I'm beginning to think you should send out e-mails to let the rest of us know when to go to RW. Berta and I looked at the weather and said "let;s wait" shows how much we Know! Thanks for the report.

blufin loui

1/16/2010 7:50:00 PM

hey Xwisconyfisherman , we just happen to put our baits in the right spot at the right time, and a whole lot of luck.

blufin loui

1/16/2010 7:53:00 PM

howdy Dave G, wishing you the best of weather, and luck on your upcoming trip. Either of those ramps should be in good shape during your trip. We put in at Seaton's today and it's in good shape also. Just remember to not be bashful, and if they are slow on the bite, change up the lure presentation.

blufin loui

1/16/2010 7:54:00 PM

Hi Toni, There's some RW tripps with your name on them, I'm sure.

blufin loui

1/16/2010 8:01:00 PM

Howdy Kahuna, Cindy and I just hook up the boat , if the driving is safe, and take our chances. We have made a trip to a fishing hole, and when we get there the weather seems too rough, we just chalk it up as a road trip. LOL. Joking aside, it has to be pretty nasty weather for us to Not wet a hook. One thing we don't venture out in, is windy days. Thanks for your post, and we're still looking for info to email you. Stay safe

Malottguy

1/16/2010 9:48:00 PM

Lewis you have me all ready for more now. Awesome fish and glad you and Cindy got into some nice ones. Makes those "little" 6 pounders look even smaller LOL. I am taking the kid out tomorrow and see how it goes. Had an idea on those light bites. I am wonder and going to try it tomorrow, about using some braided line(im using some power pro) with its sensitivity and a about 2 to 3 foot of mono leader. What do you think?

blufin loui

1/17/2010 7:08:00 AM

You might be onto something there malottguy. Just remember the braid has No stretch, so be less aggressive with the hookset on the soft mouthed fish. When using artificials (jigs in this case), I find it imperitive to keep the slack out of the line as much as possible. That way you are in contact with the lure at the end of your line. Good luck on your outing. Woke up to Snow on the ground this Morning here in Chelan.

Steelhead6438

1/18/2010 11:25:00 AM

Hi Louis, Another normal day for you out on RW. Awesome! This seems like your own personal "gloating Section" of WA Lakes.com. Thanks for the reports! Do you ever not bonk your limit? You must have 300 fish in your freezer. I personally love eating trout but at best, can eat 1 fillet every 5 or 6 days. Do any swim away?? LOL!

blufin loui

1/18/2010 9:26:00 PM

Hey there Steelhead6438 , I don't know about normal, on earlier trips we would get lots of bites and have the option to actually do some C&R, but lately for me its been two hits, and the game is over (I guess the C&R option is still there, but I just choose not to exercise it :o). Not that I'm complaing or anything, but it a lot of casting going on. Almost make me want to learn to troll for the buggers. The poor ole elbows don't hold up as good as they used too. LOL. There for a while I was feeling bad about being one of the few people posting RW reports, but now there are enough folks getting out there and catching some of the fat boys that I don't feel estranged anymore LOL. Now that BigD is back on the water, I'll have a "gloating partner soon. LOL I've been really lucky lately, and have been able to catch a limit on RW for several outings now.. The fish gods must like the color blue or something. Well, as for the number of fish in the freezer, We have lots of " friends" who don't let us have to worry about too many fish in the freezer. We have several elderly folk who no longer fish that really enjoy some pink meated boned fillets, so we are able to keep the "unprocessed" fish at a level where we can still go out and try for another daily limit. We don't eat trout every day but lets just say the BBQ sees more fish than red meat lately. Thanks man for your comment, and keep the lines tight

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