rufus woods reservoir

Central Washington offers some great opportunities for anglers this year including river fishing, open water fishing in big lakes or reservoirs, and ice fishing in smaller lakes.  Here are five solid bets for you this winter.

LAKE CHELAN

This 50-mile-long lake in North Central Washington is known for its lake trout, the largest often caught during the winter months. One person who knows this for a fact is Wenatchee resident Phil Colyar, who hauled a 35-pound, 10-ounce Mackinaw out of this lake in 2013. It’s a state record that stands to this day.

While lake trout fishing gets a lot of attention, there are other fish that can be caught during the winter months as well. Brad Wagner, owner of Bobber Down Guide Service out of Wenatchee (www.fishwenatchee.com) reported one of his guides took a couple of clients out on a trip and they came back with not only lake trout, but several kokanee and burbot.

Wagner says the kokanee last year were averaging 14 to 15 inches long.  So far post-spawn, the kokanee are running around 12-inches long and most of them are being caught up the lake.

As for the burbot, they were a common sight at the lake until about 15 years ago when a virus nearly wiped them out. Wagner says the burbot population has bounced back though and if you jig for them in rocky areas about 150-feet below the surface, there is a good chance you will tie into one. 

RUFUS WOODS RESERVOIR

The record lake trout may have been taken at Lake Chelan but the record resident rainbow trout was caught out of Rufus Woods Reservoir. Norm Butler accomplished that feat on Veteran’s Day of 2002 when he reeled in a 29.6-pound triploid rainbow trout from the 51-mile-long impoundment of the Columbia River above Chief Joseph Dam at Bridgeport.

Many anglers will jig for these trout out of boats near the net pens operated by the Colville Tribe. You can fish from shore on the Colville Reservation side of the reservoir, but you will need a tribal fishing permit to do so. You can also fish from shore on Washington State land just above Chief Joseph Dam or from a federal site called Brandt’s Landing on the Douglas County (east side) of the reservoir a few miles above Chief Joseph Dam. 

Many anglers will still fish for their trout here sitting by a campfire. Rick Graybill, a local expert, likes to fish a shrimp and a marshmallow just off the bottom from shore. Others fish worms and marshmallows or even powerbait. If fishing from a boat near the net pens, Graybill will cast spinners, drift Corkies, cast flies, or jig for the trout with either a small piece of worm or shrimp on the jig.

If you have an RV, you can take it to the net pens where a campground has been developed with hook-ups. There is also a boat launch there, but a day or annual pass is required. You can find out more details at https://www.colvilletribes.com/lake-rufus-woods.

ROSES LAKE

Located near Manson, this small lake was stocked heavily in early November with over 10,500 rainbow trout. There is a public access and launch at the south end of the lake and if you don’t have a boat, you can have some success fishing from there before the lake freezes. After the lake freezes, this fishery really shines as an ice-fishing destination. Not only for trout, but also for warmwater species like bass, perch, crappie and bluegill. Better yet, you are allowed to use two rods here as long as you have your two-rod endorsement.

BONAPARTE LAKE

Chris Marcolin, a pro-staffer for Mack’s Lure, told me Bonaparte Lake offers opportunities for a variety of trout, including tiger, brook and rainbow trout that can be caught under the ice. Anglers can also reel in kokanee, smallmouth bass and if they’re lucky, catch one of the lake trout there.

The Third Annual Bonaparte Lake Ice Fishing Derby will take place on January 25^th, 2025 with Ground Zero being Bonaparte Lake Resort. Last year, over 400 people attended the event and close to 350 adults and youth contestants fished in it. Stay tuned for details about this through the Bonaparte Lake Resort Facebook Page at  www.facebook.com/bonapartelakeresort.

RIVER WHITEFISH

Another option this winter is to head to South Central Washington for mountain whitefish. The season opened for them on December 1^st and runs through the end of February on the Yakima, Naches and Klickitat Rivers.

Rob Phillips is the long-time outdoors columnist for the Yakima Herald-Republic and has spent some time wading the cold waters of these streams hunting for whitefish. While you can catch these scrappy fighters with small spinners during the summer it’s a different technique that works in the winter.

Phillips recommends fishing a small nymph close to the bottom with a maximum size hook of #14. Black, brown, and yellow are all good colors, but the important thing is to tip the hook with a live maggot because the whitefish really like that bait.

So, there you have it. You can catch everything from whitefish to lake trout to kokanee to burbot to rainbows, tiger or brook trout as well as bass and panfish. Bundle up and head to one of these destinations and go fishing this winter!  

John Kruse

www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com 

PHOTO CREDIT:

Chris Marcolin with a tiger trout caught while ice fishing at Bonaparte Lake – Courtesy Chris Marcolin

Phil Colyar’s state record lake trout – Courtesy Phil Colyar

By John Kruse

It’s all fun and games in September and October as the foliage turns scarlet and gold. The fish put on the feed bag, biting readily. Then, November and December arrive, the leaves turn brown, tree branches become empty, and catching fish gets more challenging. Having said that, there are still some great places to catch fish in Eastern Washington in the late fall and early winter.

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

You know what they say, “the river never sleeps”, and neither do the fishing opportunities in the Gorge. At this time of year, the coho salmon bite is waning, but the walleye bite near John Day Dam, as well as catch and release sturgeon fishing, remains strong. If you are looking for current information, drop by Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus, Oregon.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER

It’s a long drive, but this picturesque river is worth it. Starting in November, good numbers of summer steelhead show up here, and fortunately, there is a good amount of public access for you to get at them, from Highway 129 at Boggan’s Oasis to Troy, Oregon. There is also some access near the mouth of the Grande Ronde, where it flows into the Snake River.

The steelhead run is much better than last year and anglers should be in for decent fishing from the bank, or from a raft or drift boat. Spinners, spoons, and small jigs fished under floats all work well here. Barbless hooks are required. Check the regulations for additional information.

POTHOLES RESERVOIR

The walleye bite continues well into December, and trout fishing is an option too! Try trolling near Medicare Beach or off the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway for quality size rainbow trout. Try off the face of the sand dunes, the mouth of Crab Creek, or in the Lind Coulee for walleye at this time of year. Trolling a spinner/worm harness behind a bottom bouncer weight works well in November, but as the water continues to cool, switch to blade baits for the walleye.

ROSES LAKE

Located near Manson, this 132-acre lake offers very good trout fishing during the fall and winter. There is a public access area on the south end of the lake, with some room to spread out for anglers fishing from shore. Once the lake freezes over, it becomes an ice fishing destination not only for trout but also for perch, which are found in good numbers here. Pro tip?

After you are done fishing, have breakfast or lunch at the nearby Blueberry Hills Restaurant. It will make the whole trip worthwhile even if you don’t catch a thing!

LONG LAKE

I was introduced to this lake when I was invited by Mack’s Lure President Bob Schmidt to fish with him and a couple of other friends on board Steve Morris’s boat, the man who owns SJM Guide Service. This lake is located just northeast of Spokane. Morris explained this fishery has a limited window because the boat launches become unusable by mid-December.

Our late November fishing trip was fantastic with a very quick limit of chunky, 12-to-14-inch rainbow trout. If you have never fished here before I would recommend using a guide like Steve. His website is www.sjmguideservice.com .

RUFUS WOODS RESERVOIR

This impoundment between Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport and Grand Coulee Dam is a long time draw for anglers going after the big triploid trout found in this reservoir. In the past, most of the triploids caught here were escapees reeled in near the net pens they were raised in on the reservoir. Now, the Colville Tribe raises triploid trout in a hatchery and releases them directly into the reservoir.

If you are fishing on tribal land, you will need a permit to do so, in addition to your fishing license. While many anglers take their boats to the areas just outside the net pens, bank anglers can also have success on tribal land by the net pens, as well as from shore at Bridgeport State Park, Brandt’s Landing, and the Willow Flats Recreation Area near Chief Joseph Dam. Oh, and if the triploid trout aren’t biting? Try trolling or jigging for walleye, there are a bunch of them here.

LAKE ROOSEVELT

Last but definitely not least, this 151-mile-long impoundment of the Columbia River stretching from Coulee Dam to Canada offers very good fishing during the winter months for quality rainbow trout and kokanee, both of which average 16 to 20 inches in size on a good year, with some fish even bigger than that. Walleye fishing is also very good here during the cool weather months, and they can get big (a walleye weighing nearly 12 pounds was caught this past March).

Anglers tend to fish around Keller, the mouth of the Spokane River, or by Kettle Falls. The kokanee are usually found in the lower end of the lake in the winter. If you want the latest fishing information about Lake Roosevelt, stop by Clark’s All-Sports in Colville.

By John Kruse

SOMETHING FISHY FOR DINNER

TJ’s Bar and Grill in Kettle Falls is in hot water after serving seafood they should not have been selling to their patrons.  According to Captain Brad Rhoden with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, during the summer of 2019 the owner of the restaurant, Terry Baxter, went on a recreational fishing trip near Bamfield, British Columbia. Baxter then brought the Chinook and coho salmon, as well as the halibut he caught, back home, and proceeded to serve these fish to customers at his restaurant.  

Captain Rhoden states, “By law, a business selling fish to a consumer, such as a restaurant, is required to state the species of the salmon and whether the fish was farmed or wild caught. The Legislature created these laws so consumers can be confident the fish they are about to eat is what it says.”  

As for selling recreationally caught fish in a restaurant, Captain Rhoden explained, “Washington law does not allow the edible portions of wild animals, game birds and game fish to be sold.  Food fish such as salmon and halibut can be commercially sold in Washington as long as the fish were lawfully harvested during on open season/area by commercially licensed fishers.  So, no recreationally caught fish can be sold, bartered or traded lawfully in Washington.”

The multi-year investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was prosecuted by the Washington State Attorney General’s Public Lands and Conservation Division last summer. On January 17th, Baxter’s business plead guilty to the crime of First-Degree Unlawful Fish Catch in Stevens County Superior Court.  He received no jail time but will have to pay a $10,000 fine.  

STATE PARKS HIRING PARK AIDES

Looking for a fulfilling, seasonal job working in a great outdoors location?  If so, apply for a job as a park aide with Washington State Parks.  They are hiring 305 seasonal workers to work from April through September at their parks throughout the state.

Duties include everything from registering campers to cleaning campgrounds and maintaining facilities and trails. Aides may also be helping out with interpretive and educational programs at parks around the state.  You may be assigned to one specific park, or rotate your daily duties amongst several parks in close proximity to one another.  

My son David worked as a park aide for two years in college, and really enjoyed his time during the summer months at Lincoln Rock and Daroga State Parks in North Central Washington.  However, this isn’t just a job for college students trying to make money during the summer.  It’s also a great opportunity for retired or semi-retired individuals who enjoy meeting people and spending time outdoors in the beautiful settings our state parks are set in.  

Park aides earn anywhere from $16.61 to $19.09, depending on qualifications and experience.  Senior Park Aides (with previous experience) earn more.  You can fill out an application at www.governmentjobs.com.  Simply type in “Park Aide” in the search bar, along with “Washington” for the location, and you’ll see what’s available.

FISHING REPORTS

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

Autumn Lawyer at Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus says they are doing pretty well catching walleye below John Day Dam.  Most of the walleye have been caught using spinner worm harnesses tipped with nightcrawlers. A bright orange and black combo-colored spinner worm harness is the hot ticket.  Several large walleye (up to ten pounds) have been caught in the last week.  

Autumn says sturgeon fishing was also pretty good last week.  Catch and keep sturgeon fishing remains open (for now) in both The Dalles and John Day pools. Be sure to check the WDFW and ODFW websites before going out, to make sure harvest quotas have not been met.

RUFUS WOODS RESERVOIR

Austin Moser with Austin’s Northwest Adventures has been catching triploid rainbow trout near the net pens at Rufus Woods Reservoir over the last several weeks.  Austin says they have been catching limits of these hefty rainbow trout, averaging 4 to 8 pounds and going all the way up to 15 pounds in size.  Moser’s clients have been jigging 3/8-ounce Maxi jigs made by Yakima Bait Company.  While many anglers use bright colors, Moser has found natural colors such as black, brown and olive work best.

Bank anglers are having success as well, though it can be hit and miss.  Most anglers fishing from shore are using Powerbait to catch their trout.  It is worth noting that there is a $20 access fee to use the park near the net pens and also a $10 launch fee.  Shore anglers also need to have a Colville Tribal fishing permit.  To book a trip go to www.austinsnorthwestadventures.com.  If you want to find out more about fishing or camping at Lake Rufus Woods Park, which is operated by the Colville Tribe, go to  www.colvilletribes.com/lake-rufus-woods.

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com