Previous Next

Friday I went fishing solo as everyone I know was either working or didn't have the time. Did the usual, put in first thing in the morning went to the lower pens to try some new things but the fish weren't biting as good as I wanted so it was off farther upriver. fished at the upper pens and caught a lot of fish, releasing them to fight another day. How many did I catch?? Never did bother to count but it was more than a few!! Didn't get any doubles on Friday though, that was a first for me on this lake I think.......oh yea, forgot, I was the only one in the boat! Using my new fly seemed to work very well, but couldn't tell if it will outfish my original pellet fly just yet. A good excuse for more testing out on the water! Did come back with a 7lb and one just over 9 lbs for the day...going to be putting some of that into the fry pan tonight...mmmm, mmmm, good!! ....................Saturday we went straight up to the net pens and had many doubles on, and caught a ton of fish,..... pretty much had at least one fish coming to the boat all morning, but then again, who's counting!! There were a lot of boats in the area and it seemed like most people eventually got their limits of trout so fun was had by all. The fish were in the range of 4-6 lbs. that we were catching and releasing that day. Again, all of the fish were caught using floating fly line and a size 12 fly. Couldn't tell the differance between the new fly and the old fly except for one fish. I noticed a nice sized one lurking a ways farther down in the water and tried the old pellet fly about 6 times around him without getting him to bite it, he took several looks, but that was it. Tied on the new fly, and had a very good drift, the sinking of the fly and the current put the fly right at the tip of his nose, he opened his mouth, I could see him chew on the fly so I set the hook and the fight was on!! If you look at the corner of the mouth in the pic of the fish you can just see the fly there. Still need more testing for the new fly though, was it just a good drift?? or did I piss the fish off enough to finally take a fly?? or is the slightly different pattern and color really doing the job?? Well, I guess the only way to really tell is by more testing, its a tough job testing new fly patterns like this, but...somebody has to do it!!! he he he
We left the pens with 6 fish for the 3 of us with the largest tipping the scales at just over 13 lbs.

Big D

6/29/2009 9:13:00 PM

Hey Chris...What can I say. You are the man. Thanks for the report & photos.

FishingFool

6/29/2009 9:32:00 PM

I wasnt aware there were 2 different sets of pens. I only know of 1 pair. How far up or down is it from the other?

Big D

6/29/2009 11:44:00 PM

Hi Fishingfool, There are actually three sets of pens on Rufus Woods. One (Lower) set about 33 miles upriver from Chief Jo dam. One (Middle) set about 38 miles upriver from Chief Jo and one (Upper) set about 45 miles upriver from Chief Jo. The second (Middle) set is the set that is closet to Nespelem.

willardchrist

6/30/2009 11:34:00 AM

Hey I think I seen you last weekend. You were in that red sled. Me and my father in law were fishing the inside. I've fished where you were tied up, it's a good spot. I caught and released lots of fish. We were using small steelhead jigs. I tried the fly rod with no luck. I'm going back in the middle of july and wondered if you could help me out with some patterns.

outdoor chris

6/30/2009 1:07:00 PM

Hi Willard, yep, that was us. Its really good all around the pens, but I do like that spot. The fly that we were using is tied to look much like the pellets that they feed the fish with. The main reason the fish are hanging around the pens is for the free grub they get when the pens are being fed...there is always some fish food that is left over. Using a fly that looks like a fish pellet makes them think they are getting just another free meal. # 12 hook, wrap with tread, use about 3.5 inches of .035 lead wire on the hook, cover that with brown chenille, a dab of head cement and pinch down the barb on the hook (for catch and release), and your ready to catch fish!! Great to hear that you caught plenty of fish!!!

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save