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Made a run over to Seaton's Grove Launch to fish the upper pens area today. Wife was working, and I had promised a coworker (Auggie) a fishing trip, so today was his day. He hadn't caught a trout over a pound or so, and chances were good to hook up with a good fish. We left chelan at 0700, no rush today with temps around 14 degrees. The forecast for Coulee Dam was to be in the upper 20s, Heat Wave. As we were going across the high desert area between Bridgeport and Crand Coulee the temp dropped to a +1 degrees. Started to be a tad worried, I didn't want to expose my lil buddy to frost bite, but what the heck, he's young so he should be able to take it. He was beginning to have second thoughts, but was determined to stick it out if I could. As we dropped down to the river the temp started to rise, and was at a balmy 16 degrees at the boat launch. No probs. Backed in the water, slid the boat off the trailer and pulled it up to shore. The boat is usually good down to about 15 or so, but the trip across the cold flats had taken its toll. The water pump was frozen. There is a small amount of water that doesn't drain that froze up the pump, but not enough to freeze break anything, So fired up the MR HEATER and pointed it at the water pump. In no time it was thawed and doing its job. Alright, look out fish. Well, not so fast. After the initial warm up, I go to shift into reverse, and no go. Shifting cable froze up. So had to warm up the engine compartment enough to limber them up. OK what next. Luckily, the rest was smooth sailing. Went down to the second (middle) set of pens to start, with plans to work our way back up if the bite was off. Now the fishin buddie for the day is a "rank" novice, and I figured it would be a tough day of teaching. Casting wasn't a problem so we are set.
I drop the trolling motor and start moving around trying to find the "sweet spot", and I hear :I got a fish on. Dang if he hadn't hooked up on the third or so cast. It took a bit of coaching to get him settled into fighting a larger fish, but finaly he brought an approxamatly 7 pounder alonside the boat. Jokingly I said I thought he could catch a bigger fish and he should release it. After some thinking he agreed, and we released the lip hooked fish while still in the water. He was mesmerized as the "Nice" fish swam back to the depths with a parting splash. As luck (or unluck) would have it, it was about two hours of freezing and casting before we got another hit. He was about ready to toss me in the drink. Probably would have if he'd been bigger. Anyway He got a hit or two and I coached him in the "fine" art of hook setting, LOL, and hooked up with a nice fish myself in the process, which I put in the livewell by the way. He finally hoked up with a good one. It stayed down out of sight, made line burning runs, and generally put up a good fight. By now Auggie was getting nervous and excited all at the same time, but was maintaining acceptable rod control. When the fish got close enough to see, Auggie said "don't even mention turning this one loose". I had him do the whole nine yards (netting and all) himself, and he boated a Tripp a few ounces over 12 pounds. WOW, what an adrenaline rush. He had to sit down for awhile and take time to "warm up" before fishing more. After loosing three more fish He ended up with a 9 plus pounder to finish his limit, and I kept a 12# 15 oz brute, and a 10 plus pounder, so the fish gods smiled on us today after a rocky start. . We caught the fish today on dark colored jigs, and couldn't get a bite on the B-2 Squids today. Go figure. We met some folks from the Elensburg area as we were getting ready to leave and told them what we were using and experiencing, so Hope they hooked into some fish also. A beautiful, but cold day on the water with wildlife, and waterfowl galore. Water temp at 48 degrees and cooling. It was a trip of a lifetime for my coworker, so I was happy with the day. Everyone stay safe out there and keep the ice out of the guides.

Droopy

12/14/2009 10:53:00 AM

blufin - what is the normal jig weight you typically use, or does it vary pending on current, water temp etc. thanks for all your reports and info,

blufin loui

12/14/2009 1:13:00 PM

hi ya Droopy, The water temp was 48 degrees (give or take a few points) and you are correct in the current playing a role in the jig weight. I personally favor the 1/16 oz, but the current usually dictates a 1/8 oz. I've not gone any heavier in RW. When using (tying) the marabou, I find more better than less. I even tie on sone short hackel when finishing off the tie, works pretty good (sometimes). But then there are days when all bets are off. I think Mr BodoFish said it best when he described the Rufus Woods as a "Kitchen Sink" fishery. The key for us seems to get the offering into the depth the fish are holding to trigger strikes from the "less than active" fish.
Wish you luck in your ventures.

charlie h.

12/14/2009 6:53:00 PM

HI Blue Fin
Do you jig right off the side of the boat or do you cast out and work the jig into you . How do you work the squids ? Plan to make it down Thursday . Last year I was drifting the bar and running tube baits off a slinky .

Thanks
Charlie

blufin loui

12/14/2009 9:20:00 PM

Hey charlie, We usually long cast to the side and a little upstream of the boat. Kinda like drift fishing from the bank. Our thought is to cast the jig far enough up stream that it will "drift" down to the fishes holding depth. Not sure if that's what's happening, but it sounds good. LOL. Anyway you will notice the mention of searching for the "sweet spots" in the post. What I do is try to read the current flows, whether in deep water or shore line, There will usually be a seam of current that is visible (slight line of debris or even rising fish to mark it), then get off to one side or the other of the suspected current seam and cast up and across the seam, letting the bait/lure swing over into the more slack water. It seems to work for us, although I'm not certain I've explained it correctly. If the water is relatively flat (no breeze/wind) watching the surface for rising fish is one way to sometimes locate one of these seams. Doesn't work all the time, but is productive enough to use as a tactic. I have in the past caught fish drifting along and vertically jigging (I think I've heard the term mooching used) with success, but enjoy the casting more.Would running baits off a slinky be similar to drop shotting in technique? I've often thought of drop shotting the tripps, but haven't got around to it yet. I've been trying to catch one on a fly rod every trip out, but so far no luck. Some day I'm going to fish the fly rod only. LOL Probly get skunked, but I gotta catch one on it someday.
Thanks for the comment and question charlie, hope I've helped in some way. Be safe out in the cold weather.

Droopy

12/15/2009 4:22:00 PM

Blufin, thanks for the info, I have been hooked on this fishery for 5+ years now, usually make 2-3 trips a year from the west side. will be at RW 27th-29, will be in the 20ft red alumaweld

charlie h.

12/15/2009 7:38:00 PM

Blufin
I run the slinky weight on a slider and let it bounce along the bottom while drifting with the tube baits, with a corky to float the bait off the bottom. Thanks for the info , I'm still trying to figure out these bad boys .

Charlie

blufin loui

12/15/2009 9:43:00 PM

One thing to keep in mind, charlie, is this time of year the RW trout will feed heavily on the snail population along the weeds/shorelines. In one of Joe's (one of the RW guides) reports on RW, he was stating the stomach contents on several of his fish were mostly snails. That in mind, think about rigging up a lure, or fly that might approximate the snails. Usually dark colors work best. Most of the snails I'v e seen in the fish are about the size of a #8-#10 hook, but I'm sure they come in all sizes.

blufin loui

12/15/2009 9:47:00 PM

Hey Droopy, I have plans to hit the lower end sometime this weekend, so maybe have some info to share. I'm sure the upper lake fishery for the trout will continue to get better now the water temp is down in the 40s. I've noticed a couple of red alumnawelds on the water over time, so if ya think ya see us be sure to give us a shout.

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