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Rufus Woods Lake Report
Douglas County, WA

Details

12/09/2007
All Day
12/09/2007
5
673

Where can floattubing flyfishermen go in freezing winter (December, January and February) to catch nice trout? A typical answer is nowhere because most of popular lakes are frozen in cold winter, but I have a new answer to that lingering question now. Get out and try Rufus Woods Lake (actually, a section of Columbia River between Grand Coulee Hydro Dam and Chief Joe Hydro Dam) above Chief Joe Hydro Dam. If you like to challenge freezing winter and uncomfortably cold water, you will not be disappointed because Rufus Woods Lake will satisfy your needs and you may be even rewarded with a handful of healthy triploids.

My first trip to Rufus Woods was November 30, just a week ago, and it was as cold as today, 27 degrees F or so around noon. I hooked only two at Brandt Landing (approximately five miles upstream from Chief Joe Hydro Dam and on the Douglas County side), but landed only one 15" triploid. The other fish was so strong as to pull me towards the middle of mighty Columbia River. I did not know how strong the current might be in the middle, so I did not want to be pulled to the middle by a fish and, in fact, I tried to horse it in. Sadly, it broke off my 3X tippet. The pull was much stronger than 11-pound Lahotan Cutthroat at Grimes Lake. I will never know how big it was and I will never forget the 5 minutes of strong pull I felt. Legendary hard-fighting Rufus Woods Lake native rainbow or monster triploid?

My second trip was December 1 and I fished along the east shoreline above the forebay of Chief Joe Hydro Dam. My favorite rigging (12-3X Olive Woolly Bugger, 10' 3X tippet, 3X 13' tapered leader, and SR6 uniform sinking line) produced only one 16" triploid. My third trip was yesterday, December 8, and I fished along the west shoreline between Bridgeport State Park and Chief Joe Hydro Dam. I ended up landing five triploids (one 19" and four ranging 15" to 17").

Finally today, my fourth trip to Rufus Woods Lake was a smashing success. It was cloudy, cold at 24 degrees F in the morning and 28 degrees F in the afternoon, and calm without any wind at all. Only thing I did differently today was that I fished along and around the trash boom at the forebay area of Chief Joe Hydro Dam. I fished from 10 AM till 2 PM and landed approximately 15 triploids ranging 16" to 21". I even crossed the might Columbia River without any difficulty. Even though Rufus Woods Lake is a section of Columbia River, it truly deserves to be called "Lake" because it hardly has any strong current at all. Flyfishing on my float tube was absolutely awesome today.

Coooo--old winter, so what? There is a hope for all floattubing flyfishermen. Try Rufus Woods Lake this winter!

S Cho from Wenatchee


Comments

Hal
12/10/2007 10:37:00 PM
Trust me , there is current there. Ive seen 6mph drifts. Your lucky they didnt open the flow more, I wouldnt suggest doing that again in a float-tube.
Anglinarcher
12/12/2007 10:56:00 AM
I am going to second the last comment. YOU GOT VERY VERY LUCKY. I am a contractor that will be replacing the trash boom cable next year, and I have done a substantial amount of research on the current flows. I also watched it every day when I paved the parking lot area at the mitigation area. I know what I'm talking about.

Six MPH drifts are not at all uncommon. I have seen the lake raise, and lower, as much as 5 feet, twice a day, during the summer months. When they get a call for power and kick the turbines open, that water screams out near the trash boom. When they close the gates, the water almost stops as the lake starts to come back up.

Do not take a float tube out again near the trash boom. Brandt's landing is ok if you don't mind walking back to the put in point. You can always work to shore if the current kicks in.

Now, about the fish, you may have hit one of the big 15 # I have seen caught out of that place. You have got to love this lake.
jdawg
12/13/2007 2:08:00 AM
Anglinarher, How safe is it to fish near the trash boom in an aluminum boat with trolling motor and 9 hp outboard? I haven't been to the lake yet myself, but I'm planning a trip in January. If you were coming from Spokane what is a good place to fish/ put in if your boat is SLOW? Thanks.
rodeobrandon
12/17/2007 9:10:00 PM
We're looking to take a couple 6 y/o boys over to Rufus Woods around x-mas in our 20' fishing boat. I've never been there, coming from Coeur d'Alene. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I've read through some of the posts and didn't see much referencing location? The kids thank you for the help! If you want to email it privately, you can to [email protected]
Anglinarcher
12/19/2007 6:31:00 PM
jdawg, sorry for not following the thread for awhile. You should be ok at the log boom buoys if your boat moves faster than a fast walk. Otherwise, you will be pushed up against the buoys until the water slows down - not a good thing. At this time of year, you could put in at the public launch and boat upstream and be just fine. The current can be strong, but not dangerous, if you go upstream.

rodeobrandon, look for Bridgport Washington on the map. It is very easy to find your way to the launch from there. In fact, from the highway, turn left and you enter Bridgport, turn right and you are on the Corps of Engineers road that leads to the ramp.
jdawg
12/22/2007 3:54:00 PM
No worries Anglinarcher. Thanks for the information. I think I'll take a little trip down there over the Christmas break. Hopefully I'll hook into one of those 15 pounders. I'll strap it to the front of my truck like a deer and drive through town nice and slow. ;-) Cheers and Merry Christmas to all!
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Available Guide

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

Phone: (509) 687-0709