Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: ribka on April 07, 2011, 11:16:51 AM

Title: Rufus Woods help
Post by: ribka on April 07, 2011, 11:16:51 AM: Fishing RF this weekend. First time. Any help with areas, bait suggestions appreciated. Plan on brining fly rod

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Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: Rick on April 07, 2011, 03:29:14 PM: There are fish in every mile of the river now. No need to fish at the pens like you used to. Never having been there,fishing at the pens will be your best bet though. If you're plunking bait,I like 5 white mini-mallows and a whole nightcrawler. A big gob of Power Bait also works,but IMO,the mallows and NC work better.

If you're in a boat and trolling,my favorite is to flatline a Hot Lips plug. They dive down 10-12' and seem to really work well for the bigger fish. You can also troll Wedding Rings with a chunk of worm. I've also caught fish trolling big bushy flies like Wooley Buggers or Muddler Minnows.

My favorite way to catch them though is to fish a jig. Anchor up 35-40' offshore and cast 1/4 oz steelhead jigs right up next to shore and jig them back to the boat. Keep them on the bottom and work them slow. Some days I might take 5 minutes to work them back to the boat. Browns,Blacks,and Purple are good.

If you're fishing bait,remember that you're done after the first two fish you catch,whether you keep them or not. If you're using hardware and are running single barbless hooks you can catch and release all day.

Be aware that the area is heavily enforced by the indian wardens,and they aren't afraid to write tickets. I've fished RW probably 50 times and have seen the wardens almost every time.
Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: CAMPMEAT on April 07, 2011, 03:40:14 PM: ribka,

Be sure to get your TRIBAL fishing license.
Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: MtnMuley on April 07, 2011, 03:59:00 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on April 07, 2011, 03:40:14 PM
ribka,

Be sure to get your TRIBAL fishing license.

You do NOT need a tribal license to fish from a boat or the middle pens from the reservation side (Most popular bank fishing spot). This area it is legal to fish with a normal WDFW fishing license. You can fish the entire Douglas County side also with your normal fishing license, however access isn't great on that side other than up to a few miles above Cheif Joe Dam. A lot of good suggestions by Rick as far as techniques. Good Luck!
Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: CAMPMEAT on April 07, 2011, 04:26:02 PM: Quote from: MtnMuley on April 07, 2011, 03:59:00 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on April 07, 2011, 03:40:14 PM
ribka,

Be sure to get your TRIBAL fishing license.

You do NOT need a tribal license to fish from a boat or the middle pens from the reservation side (Most popular bank fishing spot). This area it is legal to fish with a normal WDFW fishing license. You can fish the entire Douglas County side also with your normal fishing license, however access isn't great on that side other than up to a few miles above Cheif Joe Dam. A lot of good suggestions by Rick as far as techniques. Good Luck!

Everybody I know gets the Tribal license, but they fish from the rez. I don't fish myself because the rules are so screwie. Just thought I'd let Tom know, better safe than sorry I guess.
Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: huntnnw on April 07, 2011, 07:40:08 PM: We use to boon dog a whole night crawler with some air in it and a split shot... Borax steelhead eggs booned were great too!
Title: Re: Rufus Woods help
Post by: ribka on April 07, 2011, 09:15:09 PM: Thanks for all of the help. I think will be launching by Chief Joseph and no rez license required. In a boat. Again thanks. Hopefully have a good report
Will bee fishing fly gear. Buddy will be trolling. Will get him to switch out hooks to a single

Cheers