Took a break from slow fishing at Banks and tried Rufus Woods for the first time. Launched at the Seaton Grove ramp. The ramp is usable but the area around the ramp is torn up and there is heavy equipment all over. We had to cross some construction tape to beach the boat next to the ramp. No one was working while we were there. The fish checker said the construction was on hold for some reason.

We drifted, jigged and trolled our way to the upper pens looking mostly for walleyes or bass with not a single bite. We spent a good while all around the island/bar area on the way down with no luck there either.

When we got to the pens it was a different story. They were feeding the fish in the pens and that must trigger the trout in the river to go into a frenzy. We had 2 1/2 limits in 10 exciting minutes using Mepps spinners and a fly. I dont think it would have mattered what we threw in though. They were hitting the lures almost instantly.

Nothing huge - I think they were all maybe 3-3 1/2 pounds - but they fought well and were fat. We cooked one of them up that night and the flavor was excellent.

The bite turned off almost instantly when the feeding machines were turned off.

We buzzed down river to the next set of pens but got nothing after an hour so started trolling back to the launch. We finally caught the last of our trout limit just up river from the upper pens on a fly. Not a single walleye or bass at all. We only saw two or three other boats but couldnt tell how they were doing. Didnt see any nets flying though.

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