Rufus Woods

   Has anyone fished this "lake" for big triploids recently?   It's big water, about 50 mile long impoundment of the Columbia behind Chief Joseph dam.  I;ve seen pix of some monster trout, in the 20-23# class,  it's kind of a long slog from my nck of the woods but some awesome pix on the washingtonlakes.com archives.
   There are tribal net pens where they raise the rainbows, and a lot of native and triploids caught in that area near Nespelem.
   Wonder how it would be for yakkin.....

Not recently ... but soon!!!

-Allen

I've seen more than my share of bankees and rowboats slay w/ huge trout. So the kayak will do just fine. The only question I have is when are we going?

Z

Fished it this summer, but caught nothing more than 16"....  I saw several large trout, but they weren't hitting my wedding ring and worm combo.  I was camped in Bridgeport State park and only fished across from there and near the dam.

Last year we camped next to some folks that were fishing down near the pens and they caught some really nice triploids.  I know they are in there, but haven't caught the big one yet.  The Park is a great place to camp, but is full most of the summer.  I was in Bridgeport this weekend visiting my Son and the State Park was full of hunters dressing out their deer.  Lots of folks go over there and combine a deer hunting trip with fishing. 

Good luck if you get over there.  It's getting too cold for my old bones.

Gary

Not recently ... but soon!!!

-Allen

Oh, how soon?

Rufus is a little over an hour from my place, in the Methow. Kayaks would be fine on it; I use my rowboat regularly. Best fishing is fall through spring. Summer water temps get kind of high, and the fish go deep. About now they come up and start cruising the shorelines. Last year, in Nov., my daughter and I were releasing 20 fish in a few hours, keeping a few 5#+ a trip. (These guys were around 21-22 inches. I've seen a 7lber go 24 inches.) I've seen much bigger ones caught. I think there have been at least three over 30#, in the last few years.

The Methow and Upper Columbia are also open for steelhead, so a trip in this neighborhood could be good for AOTY points. Deer hunting season is over this Sunday, so the crowds will be thinning.

Not recently ... but soon!!!

-Allen

Oh, how soon?

Zee and I were talking on the way down to Silver last weekend.  November was mentioned as a possibility ...

-Allen

November was mentioned as a possibility ...

-Allen

Sign me UP!!

Z

Give me some dates I can block out!

Here's some fish porn from the last few days on the Methow- boatless. The Fishing Magician has been reporting hot fishing in the Columbia, below the mouth of the Methow.

gorgeous fish PS! I'll PM you.

Z

my wife and i are considering going to rufus mid november for a break...is there any accomodations close by bridgport to keep warm and dry at might? i would like to fish for trips from my kayak around joe dam and the state park...i have heard the fishing is good around there? anybody know fo any cabins for rent in that area?

thanks guys

I haven't been able to nail down a weekend yet but if there's some interested we could do a weekend out there for trips etc.. If you're interested make yourself known!

Z

i think we are going to try for the weekend of the 15th...i need to find comfortable place for my wife to curl up and read a book so i can go hunt fish for a few hours that weekend...i hear there is a boat launch close to the dam and there is a park and the state park close by?  do you typically camp this time of year? too cold for me to sleep in a tent in november!

A nice place I can leave the girlfriend at (uhhh .. I mean take the girlfriend to) would be nice.  Bill, how far is the launch from Sun Mountain Lodge?

-Allen

Sun Mtn. to the launch is at least 1 1/2 hours. I'm 20-25 minutes closer (Twisp). There is a nice B and B, here in town.

Bridgeport, Brewster and Pateros have an entirely different socio-economic status. Best chances would probably be in Pateros or Brewster.

The Fishin' Magician suggest that upstream (for cooler temps) is best on Rufus. In that case, It's possible to buy a tribal permit and launch off the N shore, from Columbia River Road. That road goes right by Omak Lake, which is good for large Lahontans. There are plenty off motel in the Omak/Okanogan area, but I don't know how nice they are.