Rufus Woods Report 1/11/15

Made a solo trip out to Rufus Woods this weekend.  Temps were 34 degrees in the morning, up to 38 degrees by noon.  Not too bad at all... stayed pretty toasty the whole time.  Water temp was between 43.8 and 44.  It was my first trip out there so I can't say if fishing was Hot or moderate... but after spending 20+ hours on Lake washington this fall/winter with one decent cutthroat to show for it... the 16 fish I caught in 2 days was phenomenal to me.  Seahawks saturday was the better of the two days for quantity... I went 12 for 12.  Sunday was the Hawg day, but had 5 or 6 takedowns with no hook ups.  Smallest fish I boated was 14.5".  Average fish size was 16"-17".  And my big fish of the weekend came in the last 30 minutes of fishing on Sunday... a 25"er.  I am brand new to the AOTY so sadly, I let 4 nice sized fish (likely 18"-20" range) slide off the measuring table while I was attempting a photo.  I felt pretty silly, but didn't beat myself up cause I know there is always a learning curve.  I was planning on keeping 2 of the ones that slipped away on Saturday... actually left without keeping anything on Saturday
I was trolling with a nice flimsy steelhead drift rod on a 4lb down rigger ball with a barbless needlefish spoon on one rod, and on the second rod I had an ultralight kokanee rod with 10lb test mainline tied directly to a 3" krocodile spoon.  Both rods got a lot of action.  I let about 80-100 yards of line out on each rod as well.  Second day I used a chrome and green dodger with a wedding ring/mini squid/chartreuse blade a little deeper (38') and got a couple on that as well 17" and 18".  All in all... it was a great trip.  The 18" in the picture below was the best fighter... made 4 or 5 short lively runs... and the big boy was brought in on the ultralight koke rod... so much fun.

Oh.... and I got to watch a Seahawks playoff win in between the two great fishing days!

Nice fish! That's a good way to start the year. I'm also digging the red Turbo Fins. I thought I was the only person using them 

Thanks Ling Ling.  Was a great way to cap off an already fun weekend.  I think you might be the only one in OR with the red ones... Hobie said the reds ones attract fish... shhhhh.

Thanks Ling Ling.  Was a great way to cap off an already fun weekend.  I think you might be the only one in OR with the red ones... Hobie said the reds ones attract fish... shhhhh.

Some people even think they attract sharks. Who knows 

Great report - that 25 incher is a huge trout! I have yet to get anywhere near that size. Really cool.

Ling, how dare you insinuiate you're the only one using red turbo fins? My boat has two sets for twice the speed and shark-attracting power! 

Seriously, though, the blue fins on my 2015 are really going to clash with a red boat. And all of that is going to clash with my pink crocs...

Great report - that 25 incher is a huge trout! I have yet to get anywhere near that size. Really cool.

My largest trout to date (ie my biggest dose of luck to date).  And thanks to your 2014 recap post, I signed up for AOTY so it has some point value too.  Next brand new challenge for me is catching my first ever bass.  Time to research.  Hoping to catch one before it's springer time.

Great report. 

I enjoy that area of WA but I've never fished RW.  Many good fishing locations near there.  Might have to make some time and hit RW next visit.