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Rufus Woods Lake Report
Douglas County, WA

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06/17/2011
Bottom Fishing From Boat
Rainbow Trout
Jig
Afternoon
06/18/2011
4
1705

"Another day of "catching" on Rufus Woods. Cindy and I headed up to RW, and launched at the Corps launch right above Chief Joe dam around 1:30. Water temps were 58-61* and air temp around 78*. Light to strong "breeze". Headed upriver about 10-12 miles and fished the shoreline out to about 20 feet of depth. Most fish were in 12-15' depth, but I did catch a few right on the shoreline in 2' of water. I'll have to put a plug in about P-line. I hooked a 5 pound plus tripp in the shallow water, and around a snag it went. I first thought I had a monster cause it was peeling line, then when it would stop, I had a hard tug to gain any line. Then I noticed the line was still in the shallows and the fish had peeled off several yards of line. Hmmmm Any way I fought the fish this way for several minutes, then all I felt was a hang up, no surges in the line. Drats, it tangled me up and I didn't want to loose the spoon (fighting fish) cause a friend had given it to me and it was working. So after flipping the line a few times to try and get loose, I asked Cindy to see if she could retreive my lure for me while I positioned the boat next to the snag. As I was trying to navigate the shallows--with some current running--, an errant breeze pushed the boat over the snag. Line under the boat, cindy trying to shake it loose, and dancing with the breeze was more trouble than I wanted. "just break it off" I says. Cindy started pulling on the line (not wrapped around her hand of course) when the line slides up and off the snag. Great. She reeled up the line, but alas it was snagged out in deeper water. She said, I think I can feel the fish, so I take the rod back and proceded to crank in line. Finally got untangled from the next snag and fought the fish to boat side where it was noticed the jig was deeper in the mouth, and not lip hooked. In the live well it went. So a 5# fish, tangled on two different snags, sawing back and forth, and rubbing on the hull while I danced in the breeze. 6 # test P-line. Held up pretty well. Needless to say I felt the line and retied, and replaced it when we got home. On to the fishing. We fished both sides of the river with the tribal side producing the bigger fish for us today. We threw jigs in dark colors, super roosters, Fighting Fish spoons, cast masters, Crocodiles, Minnow immitations, in 1/16oz and 1/8 oz were used depending on the current. everything caught fish except the croc for whatever reason. Silver worked best for us in the spoons today, with dark colors with the jigs. Points, bays, and current seems all seemed to hold fish. As Cindy just got back from a conference in Portland, we cut our trip short and ony stayed on the water a few hours. C&R quite a few fish, and came home with a limit of 5# 12oz - 6# 13oz triploids. Nice fillets. In the brine for the smoker. Mm Mmm good. There was one boat drifting alon in 20 or so feet of water verticle jigging for walleye using what looked to be curly tailed grubs. They were picking up trout, but no wallys. Another boat was anchored and Looked to be catching several fish (more than a limit), so we eased over close enough for conversation. Nope not doing anygood theay say, and after landing a few fish, pull anchor and head in. Hmmmmm Tight lines, and stay safe out there


Comments

Knotabite
6/18/2011 5:30:00 PM
Great report Blu... Wife i were out as well Friday (windy at dam) but was able to pick up two nice fish (after work :( of course) .. They sure are a great fight with the trout gear!! All i can say to people when they ask - Get out while it last! I myself went out today (6/18/11) trolled for 3 hours landed one fish and the other is swimming around with my wedding ring.. :)
stryker17
6/18/2011 6:47:00 PM
nice, we launched at Seatons Grove about 11;00 and headed down to the net pens area, did real good and limited out fairly quick with 4 fish the largest one 8+ lbs, rained on and off most of the day............. what really burns my bu$$ are the people that pull in front of you, using power bait and catching and releaseing tons of fish, I thought that you had to keep any fish caught with bait............. today it was a guide boat that did it, wont say who but reall burns me up.............. we were using salmon plugs in real bright colors any thing with a rattle................
Wintersteelhead21
6/18/2011 7:49:00 PM
Thanks for posting an entertaining and informative report Lewis!
Wintersteelhead21
6/18/2011 7:49:00 PM
Thanks for posting an entertaining and informative report Lewis!
blufin loui
6/18/2011 9:04:00 PM
Gotta agree with ya Knotabite, "When it's hot, it's hot". That pretty much sums it up at rufus right now. Good on you for getting out and getting a few.
blufin loui
6/18/2011 9:08:00 PM
I know what you mean stryker17, I have to nurse scorched body parts when I see that guide (it could be the same one) on the water. I've noticed one guide on several occassions at the lower pens soaking power bait and salmon roe, while high grading. Two fish brought to the boat with bait and their through fishing for the day. I better go apply some more burn ointment.LOL
Take care and enjoy your time on the water
blufin loui
6/18/2011 9:09:00 PM
You're welcome Wintersteelhead21, A good story after a fishing trip just rounds out the day. LOL
Toni
6/18/2011 9:53:00 PM
I look forward to reading your reports and seeing the pictures. What kind of P-Line was it?
blufin loui
6/19/2011 5:26:00 AM
Thank You toni, it is P-line Floroclear. Copolymer.
Augwen
6/19/2011 6:36:00 AM
Good Report as always...Fighting Fish spoons? I never heard of them. Are they local?
stryker17
6/19/2011 6:45:00 AM
I guess I still was a little hot under the neck............ both times it was in the same place and we were the only ones there we are trolling a fairly small stretch of water, maybe 100yds long, than pick up drift back down and start over, we would pick up a fish each pass, both of the boats on both days were fishing other areas and watched us catch fish , than moved right in and dropped anchor right in our path so we had to move out and around them. The guide boat almost hit us to get in front of us and anchor. I know that thier business is catching fish for the clients, but come on lets do it right............ You know we try to do the right thing, handle the fish as best as we can, change the hooks, ect , guess that attitude is due to the number of fish in the water,but remember that it wont be this way all the time....thanks for the rant................
afk
6/19/2011 7:09:00 AM
Lewis, as always, great report. Thanks
wagnbrnr
6/19/2011 7:39:00 AM
great report loui . we use 4lb test P-Line when we are there and have never lost a fish .
Lend jr
6/19/2011 11:08:00 AM
Man is every trout in that lake Over 5lbs?.wish we had a lake with some big ones this side of the pass!
glowball
6/19/2011 1:05:00 PM
you can c & r fish caught with bait...but they count on your limit..
Why2Fish
6/19/2011 3:02:00 PM
Went out on June 19 in the AM. Trolled the low end with every combo we had. Not a bite. Fished high and low, fast and slow, red and green, big black and little. LOTS of boats out, and saw one 2lb caught. Not our day!
Why2Fish
6/19/2011 3:08:00 PM
On another note,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who is the rude fisherman (guide or not)?
stryker17
6/19/2011 6:08:00 PM
Globall- agreed, but 15 fish in short tome for 4 people not...................... Why2fish.............. we didnnot say a word packed up and left............. 2 times in 2 days is about all I could handle....................
blufin loui
6/19/2011 9:08:00 PM
hi ya Augwen , the Thomas lure company makes the fighting fish, I haven't seen them around here, but they are available online.
blufin loui
6/19/2011 9:14:00 PM
I agree stryker17, there seems that a few of the "guides" seem to think all is fair to get their clients in fish. That's one thing I like about joe from Lakechelan adventures, he's a fair-play all day type of guy. So glad you have a place to rant, instead of trying to be Mr DoRight, and making a confrontation on the water. There is a "time and place" for everything.
blufin loui
6/19/2011 9:16:00 PM
Hey wagnbrnr, I was using my 10 1/2 ft light action rod with 4# P-line today and with a 6# trout in the current, it felt like fighting a salmon.
blufin loui
6/19/2011 9:18:00 PM
Hey Rapala jr, not all trout are over 5#, sometimes you will catch a 4#. LOL There are plenty of the 5-7 # fish to be had right now, and it is a great fishery with great scenery.
blufin loui
6/19/2011 9:19:00 PM
Why2Fish, that's Rufus. Some days are good and some days are not so good. It is alot of water to fish, and yes there are some barren stretches of water. So don't give up, ask around and keep on fishing.
charlie h.
6/20/2011 8:56:00 PM
Good story Lewis , nice to see Cindy holding up the fish ! Did they dump all the fish in the pens ?

Charlie h
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709