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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Feed the tribe with Rufus Woods hog-like rainbow trout

Dave Matulka of Cle Elum with fishing buddy John Jensen of Easton took limits of Lake Rufus Woods triploids last week for themselves and guides, Andy Byrd and Jeff Witkowski.  The big fish was 9.5 pounds. (Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service)
Dave Matulka of Cle Elum with fishing buddy John Jensen of Easton took limits of Lake Rufus Woods triploids last week for themselves and guides, Andy Byrd and Jeff Witkowski. The big fish was 9.5 pounds. (Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service)

 FISHING -- Heading downstream from Grand Coulee Dam has been productive for anglers casting bait rigs near the commercial net pens at Lake Rufus Woods, according to Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service

His photo above indicates the rough range of possibilities for these outsized fish.

Here's his secret for matching what the fish are eating with a distinction that makes his bait more irresistible.

At Rufus, we know the fish are feeding below and downstream of the net pens on fish pellets.  How would they find our pellet imitation among the gazillions of actual food pellets?  Well, they wouldn’t.  So we fish where they are with a bait that is in the area they are eating, and only a bit bigger than what they are feeding on.  However, we use rainbow color and glitter to attract their attention. 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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