By Dave Graybill

Checking the long range forecast it appears that spring is finally going to visit us here in Central Washington. Just in time, too. There are a whole bunch of lakes that are open to fishing, and I think most all of our golf courses are open for business. I have discovered that it may be a bit early for bass fishing. I have tried it on Lake Chelan and on Roses Lake and have been blanked. Of course fishing in the snow is less than ideal conditions for warm water fisheries. It won’t take too many warm days and evenings to change that. I am already getting some good reports on the walleye fishing at both Banks Lake and Moses Lake. Water temperatures have warmed enough to at least get this species moving. I expect anglers that head down to the Potholes Reservoir area lakes that opened recently will find plenty of hungry rainbow trout. Both upper and lower Hampton lakes should be outstanding spring trout fisheries again this year. Don’t forget to mark you calendars for the important Coastal Conservation meeting at the new location on April 10th. It will be at the Wenatchee Brethren Baptist Church, starting at 6 p.m.

By Dave Graybill

I have mentioned a meeting coming up that salmon and steelhead anglers would want to attend, and I need to give everyone some updated information. The meeting is about the Coast Conservation Association and their plans to help salmon and steelhead recovery. This group has had great success with efforts like this in the Gulf States and on the Eastern Seaboard. Gary Loomis will be traveling to Wenatchee on Thursday, April 10th to explain how the organization works and what he is doing to establish a Northwest Chapter of the CCA. The meeting site has changed and will now be held at the Wenatchee Brethren Baptist Church at 535 Okanogan Street. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. The meeting place has been changed from the previously announced location. I urge everyone that has an interest in salmon and steelhead fishing to attend this informational meeting and learn what this group has to offer. When you come to the meeting please use the rear church entrance off the parking area. Please pass the word on to all your fishing friends. I will be there and plan to join this every effective fishing advocacy group.

By Dave Graybill

Don’t forget, you’ve just got a couple more days before you need a new fishing license. Get to your favorite sporting goods store or go on-line before you hit the water on April 1st. You’ll want to have new on then for sure as the April Fools Opener on the first offers some great fishing for both trout and spiny-rays. If you want to get in some practice prior to the opener, a good place to wet a line would be at Roses Lake near Manson. The lake received a huge plant of rainbow last November and these fish are hungry. Anglers fishing from boats and the shore are having a ball catching these 11-inch trout. There are some much larger fish available in Roses, too. I am going to try it for bass. It has become one of my favorite spots for largemouth, and although it may be a bit early, I want to see if any of the big fish in here are hungry yet. I’m going to try for catfish at Roses later in the season. Don’t forget that Gary Loomis is coming to town to talk about the Coastal Conservation Association and what it could do to improve fishing for salmon and steelhead.

By Dave Graybill

All good things must come to an end and the steelhead fisheries on the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers will close on March 31st this year. This has been a great season, with a lot of hatchery fish caught, and it has been a real benefit to see these two rivers open clear to the end of the season. Anglers are reminded that the whitefish season on the Similkameen River on March 31st, too and the Okanogan River will remain open to fishing from the mouth to the bridge at Malott to game fish other than steelhead and trout. This would be a good time to let angles know about a meeting in East Wenatchee on Thursday, April 10th. Gary Loomis will be in town to explain how the efforts of the Coastal Conservation Association can help assure steelhead and salmon runs in the future. The CCA has had great success enhancing fisheries in the Gulf States and on the Eastern Seaboard and they want to establish a chapter in the Northwest. The meeting will take place at the Douglas County PUD Auditorium, starting a 6 p.m. The PUD building is located just off the Sunset Highway on Valley Mall Parkway in East Wenatchee.

By Dave Graybill

It took a few years, but Hooked on Toys has finally arranged to get Tom Knapp, one of the world’s greatest exhibition shooters to come to Wenatchee. If you haven’t seen “The Shooting Star” on one of the outdoor television shows, you’ll want to catch his act live. It is truly amazing. He will be performing his astonishing shooting feats at the Wenatchee Gun Club on Saturday, April 5th from 1 to 3 p.m. To make his appearance even more interesting, Hooked on Toys is holding a drawing to win a new Benelli Nova 12 shotgun valued at $485.00! People can enter the drawing at Hooked on Toys and the winner will be announced at the exhibition shoot. For more information, call the store at 509-663-0470. The April Fools Trout Opener in the Columbia Basin isn’t that far off, and if anglers want to know what to expect from the lakes included in the opener, tune into KWCC-TV. Try Channel 19 or Channel 12 at noon on Thursday and you’ll see me interviewing Jeff Korth and Joe Miller with the WDFW. They give a thorough low down on this season’s expectations. Have your new license to fish this opener.

By Dave Graybill

There are a variety of great fishing opportunities here in Central Washington right now. Steelhead anglers are still scoring on the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers, and it looks like the season will run through the end of the month. I am getting some great reports on the trout fishing at Quincy Lake in the Quincy Wildlife Area. Rainbow to 20 inches are being landed by trollers here. Fly fishers who hike down to Dusty Lake, in the same area, are battling rainbow of up to 26 inches. Big news is that the ice has come off Lenore and anglers who like to catch the big Lahontan cutthroat here in the spring are starting to catch fish. Cutts to 27 inches have been landed by feather flingers fishing choronomids. The ice has come off of Roses Lake, near Lake Chelan, too, and stringers of small rainbow are being landed here. Unfortunately, the ice is still covering the water at the marina at Coulee City. Anglers are anxious to get at the perch that move into this cove in the spring, but they will have to wait just a bit longer. Don’t forget to renew your fishing license by April 1st and also to mail in your catch record cards. The WDFW wants them whether you fished or not.

By Dave Graybill

Good news for anglers with a serious case of spring fever! The ice has cleared off of most of our area lakes, and with warm daytime temperatures, there should be some great fishing coming up. I checked on Roses Lake the other day and found the ice gone and anglers lining the shore and out in boats. One boat just pulled in as I arrived and the young boy who was tying up to the dock hefted a nice stringer of rainbow. Roses is a particularly good bet as the small lake was planted with 12,000 rainbow last fall, so getting a limit of 11-inch rainbow here should be very easy. I even saw a bass boat working the shoreline reeds while I was there but I didn’t get a chance to visit with him. I can’t wait to get out on this one myself. I had a ball here last year catching rainbow trout and then fishing for largemouth bass. This was after I hit Lake Chelan for silvers! Makes for a great day. The weather conditions a looking good for a great April Fools Opener in the Columbia Basin. The opener falls on a Tuesday, but there will be plenty of anglers turned out for this one, and the weekend should be a dandy.

By Dave Graybill

I have a couple of items for the mark your calendar category. First of all, don’t forget to renew your fishing license. If you plan to fish the “April Fools” Open in the Columbia Basin, you better have a new one. Licenses expire on March 31st these days. Coming up in April will be a meeting at the Douglas County PUD Auditorium about the Coastal Conservation Association. Gary Loomis is actively seeking members to form a Northwest Chapter of the association that currently has 17 coastal state chapters. The CCA is best known for its success with the salvation of the redfish fishery in Gulf States, but has other very impressive success stories. Loomis will explain the mission and aims of the advocacy group and talk about the formation of local chapters and they would be structured. The meeting will begin a 6 p.m. and all anglers who have an interest in steelhead and salmon fishing should attend. Also coming up in April is the Annual Rock Island Kids Fishing Day at the Pitt Pond. The WDFW will have the juvenile pond with plenty of rainbow and Ray Pearson will there cooking hot dogs again. The Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association will also be on hand to help kids with fishing gear, to make sure they’re set up properly to catch a fish.

By Dave Graybill

Spring fishing is really rolling here in Central Washington. The Quincy and George area lakes continue to provide good action for trout anglers. Fly fishers trying the quality lakes near Beverly are finding the trip worthwhile, when the wind lays down. The ice should clear off of Lenore soon and the good fishing for big Lahontan cutthroat is something everyone is looking forward to this spring. I have even planned a bass fishing trip. My buddy wants to put the boat in on Lake Chelan and see if we can tempt a few smallmouth out of the cold water. It seems early to me, but he can’t wait. I’ll let you know how we do. I want to ask for some help. The annual Kids Fishing Day at Rock Island is coming up on Saturday, April 19th, and the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association would like to gather up some fishing gear to hand out to the kids that need it. The Department of Fish and Wildlife office on the Chelan Highway will accept donated tackle during their office hours. Rods, reels and other gear that is in reasonable condition is welcome.

By Dave Graybill

I got another great report from Rufus Woods. Big surprise,huh. A couple of local fly anglers made the trip to the big reservoir and dumped their pontoon boats in near the dock above the dam at Bridgeport. Seems they didn’t have to go far to find fish. They never traveled more than 200 yards up lake from the dock and had a ball catching triploids to 6 pounds, using full sinking lines with a Wooly Bugger on the end. I want to remind everyone that their fishing licenses will expire at the end of the month. You can pick up a new one at a variety of sporting goods dealers and other outlets throughout the region. You can even get your license on-line now. It’s pretty easy. Just go to my web site: fishingmagician dot com and go to the Links Page. Click on the Department of Fish and Wildlife web site and follow the directions. Nothing to it. Also, don’t forget to send in your salmon and steelhead punch cards. Now that the seasons are over you need to send them in to the address that is on the cards. No penalties yet, but some states won’t give you a new license unless you’ve sent your punch cards in.

By Dave Graybill

The bright spot in the fishing scene here in Central Washington remains the lakes in the Quincy Wildlife Area and the lakes near George. Many of the other lakes in the region stubbornly remain ice capped. The small lakes near Quincy make for nice trip, though. There is plenty of shore access and the catch rates experienced by anglers on the March 1st opener indicate there are plenty of hungry rainbow available. I checked in with Darc Knobel at the Desert Fly Angler in Ephrata about ice conditions at Lenore which is a very popular spring fishery for fly fishers, and he reported that the lake just won’t shed its ice cap. He thought it would be clear by now, but freezing night temperatures are maintaining the ice cover. It should go quickly when it does decide to break up. A good option for fly anglers this spring, when the wind isn’t blowing too hard, is the quality lakes near Beverly. Lenice and Nunnally produced well on the opener and fishing will improve as the weather warms. Rocky Ford Creek near Ephrata continues to provide excellent fishing for very large rainbow. Fish this one during the week if at all possible..

By Dave Graybill

Although we’ve had a long hard winter over here in Central Washington, spring fishing on area lakes is off and running and the opportunities for fly fishers are better than I expected. Water temperatures are chilly, but trout are hungry. The results of the of the March 1st opener indicated that fly fishers had very good success and they will do even better as weather continues to warm. Although wind made things difficult for the anglers who hiked down to Dusty Lake caught some big fish. Rainbow and brown trout were running 14 to 20 inches and there are much larger fish available there, including some whopper tiger trout. Really big tiger trout, up to 6 pounds, are available at Lenice. Anglers did better at neighboring Nunnally on the March 1st opener, and anglers are reminded that the state plans to put 1,100 rainbow weighing over a pound to the lakes in April. Lenore is also a popular fly fishing lake, but still hasn’t shaken its ice. When it goes fishing will be hot. Rocky Ford Creek, near Ephrata, has fished exceptionally well this winter and offers great fly fishing for rainbow that average 2 to 3 pounds.

By Dave Graybill

Most of the lakes that opened on March first had shed enough ice to allow angling, and there were some good catch rates recorded. As expected Upper Caliche Lake was the top lake in terms of production for anglers. The lakes was completely ice free and anglers bagged an average of 4.1 rainbow for their efforts. Most were 12-inch catchables. Martha Lake was close behind in catch rates. Many anglers limited here in less than an hour and there was a mix in the size of the trout. Most were 12-inch catchables, but there were a few 18- to 26-inch brook-stock rainbow taken as well. Burke Lake still had some ice on it for the opener, but anglers still took an average of 3.9 trout and there was a fair amount of carryover rainbow of 15 to 19 inches landed. Quincy Lake was pretty much still frozen for the opener. Dusty Lake was ice free but wind hampered anglers. The few that tried it caught a couple of 14- to 21-inch rainbow. Nunnally was the best of the Beverly area with anglers averaging 4.5 rainbow with most going 17 to 21 inches. Lenore remains mostly frozen so no one was fishing here.

By Dave Graybill

A whole bunch of lakes opened to fishing in the Quincy Wildlife Area, and I hope the ice cleared off enough to allow anglers access to the water. There are a lot of hungry trout waiting for them. Burke and Quincy lakes are always popular on this early opener, and I had good reports of large yearling rainbow being caught before Burke closed in July of last season. Dusty Lake will be the destination for fly fishers. Large rainbow, brown trout and even tiger trout will be waiting for them at the bottom of the trail. There have been tiger trout weighing up to 6 pounds taken from Lenice, one of three quality lakes that open near the town of Beverly. These lakes are also popular with fly anglers. Martha Lake, which is just east of the town of George, will have a catchable size trout to offer anglers, and this one has good bank access. If I had my choice of all of these lakes and wanted to bag an early limit of fat rainbow, I would head to Upper Caliche Lake, which is just west of the town of George. The lake received a plant of about 4,000 12-inch rainbow last October.

By Dave Graybill

Our spring trout fishing kicks off with the March 1st opening of a whole bunch of lakes in the Quincy Wildlife Area, and some quality lakes that open at the same time. Every year, Jeff Korth, district biologist with the WDFW in Ephrata put out a prospect report the early season, and this is a synopsis of what he said to say. Burke and Quincy lakes were rehabbed in the fall of 2005 and should be very good this season, with some sizeable yearlings and some nice carryovers. Martha and Caliche Lake have problems, but both receive plants of catchable-size rainbow in the fall. Dusty Lake is in great shape and last season was real standout with catches of big rainbow, brown and tiger trout for those who hiked down to the lake. Lenore is also in great shape and fishing as good as it has it ever has for years. The lake is full of Lahontan cutthroat that average about 4 pounds. This spring should be very good. Korth describes Lenice and Nunnally, both quality lakes near Beverly, as “past their prime” but received plants of large rainbow and brown trout last year. More large rainbow will be added to both lakes in April this year.

By Dave Graybill

There is a lot going on here in Central Washington. Steelhead fishing is still open on the upper Columbia and other area rivers. The Wenatchee River may close as early as this weekend, but there are a bunch of other rivers open. The upper Columbia continues to provide excellent fishing for steelhead of six to eight pounds, with some larger fish possible. Rufus Woods is still keeping anglers busy, and I got a report of one fish that weighed over 21 ½ pounds taken recently. On Saturday, March 1st a bunch of lakes are due to trout fishing in the Quincy Wildlife Area. This is a very popular opener and hundreds of anglers crowd around Burke and Quincy lakes, hike into Dusty and Lenice and Nunnally are big favorites with fly fishers. Our cold winter may delay this opener a bit. Most of the lakes still sport a cap of ice, so I will keep an eye on them and let you know in my next report if they have cleared. The annual Boat Show is going on in the Wenatchee Valley Mall, too, and there are some great boats built for fishing or family fun on display all week long.

By Dave Graybill

If you didn’t get your fill of fishing for steelhead on the Wenatchee River, better get out and get ‘er done. Word is that the steelhead season on the Wenatchee will close soon. The numbers of wild fish that were caught and released is fast approaching the cut off and the Department of Fish and Wildlife will need to close the river to fishing in accordance with the agreement with National Marine Fisheries. The good news is that anglers came very close to taking the target number of hatchery origin steelhead this season. This is important to see fishing for steelhead on the Wenatchee in future seasons. Fishing conditions on the river have improved considerably in the past couple of weeks. Shelf ice has all but disappeared and there is better access along the frozen shores. I have received good reports of fish being taken on the Wenatchee, so now’s the time get out and get in your last licks for the season. Some good methods for taking steelhead right now on the Wenatchee would be a bobber and jig, with a small jig, or casting a Cokie with a bit of yarn on the single, barbless hook.

By Dave Graybill

I made a run up to Fish Lake recently. I hadn’t checked on the ice there for a while and wanted to see if anyone was out fishing. Boy Howdy! There was a fishing party going on. It was a beautiful, sunny day and people were taking advantage of it. Parties were spread out all over the lake and were catching both perch and rainbow trout. The ice is in great shape and at least two feet thick. No soft snow on top either. We’re getting clear and warm days often now, but the evening temperatures are well below freezing so the ice is going to last for quite a while. I am sure the same is true for most of the lakes in our region. Our very chilly temperatures earlier this month and last put a solid crust on area lakes and ice fishing will be good at Fish Lake, Rat Lake, Patterson, Molson and others for at least the next two weeks. Ice should be going fast from the lakes near Quincy and further south in the Columbia Basin. Many of them are due to open on March 1st and anglers want that ice to go away. If it doesn’t clear off soon there won’t be any fish planted for the popular opener, but reports indicate that won’t be a problem this year.

By Dave Graybill

It’s that time of year. The annual outdoor shows are all going on right now and there’s another one starting up on Thursday, February 21st in Monroe. This is the Evergreen Sportsmen’s Show and Sport Fishing Show. It’s held at the Evergreen State Fair Grounds in Monroe, which is just outside of town on the way to Snohomish. One of the cool attractions is “Predators of the Northwest”. They suggest that you bring a camera, because you can actually get up close with cougars, wolves, bobcats, a red fox and other animals. Hunters can enter their trophies and win prizes. Kids can fish in trout pond and even paint duck decoy, all supplies included. There’s even a 3-D Pop Up Archery Challenge. Hundreds of free seminars and demonstrations from top pros and experts are scheduled throughout the weekend. This one will really have a lot of sport fishing boats, canoes and kayaks on display and for sales, plus campers and tent trailers. I’m sure glad the passes are open because I really like to go to this one. You can find out more about the show by logging onto www.otshows.com

By Dave Graybill

I’m looking forward to this weekend. It’s the beginning of the annual Boat Show at the Wenatchee Valley Mall. This annual event has been going on for over 10 years and I always find it a lot of fun. This is the first chance to see what’s new in the boating world. The dealers bring boats that are built for either fishing in our area or for families that enjoy playing on the water. There will be fishing boats galore with all the whistles and bells you can imagine to make your fishing experience both comfortable and successful. The play boats are something to see. Some of the new ones pump water into their hulls to make big waves for jumping and the sound systems on these boats are unbelievable. I am partial to the fishing boats, of course. The boat builders are always coming up with something new. I like to see how they have the boats set up for fishing in our area. A boat should have a big main engine, a good kicker (with power tilt) and a bow-mounted electric motor. Let’s see, a good fish finder, a live well….Well you can see I’m dreaming about a new boat already.

By Dave Graybill

I was in search for perch on a recent outing here in Central Washington. Typically there are a couple of places that attract hordes of anglers this time of year, but both perch and anglers were hard to find. Normally the banks of the Winchester Wasteway at the bridge on Road 5 would be crowded with people pulling perch from the open water. I only found a couple of anglers testing the waters here, and they were very disappointed. I then headed up to Coulee City to check out the action at the Marina. The ice is thick enough to support anglers, but there just weren’t any around when I arrived. There was evidence of anglers drilling holes in the ice here, but even though the day was clear and warm no one was around. This indicates to me that the fishing isn’t all that great here either. Rufus Woods is still the number one attraction to anglers over here, and there are plenty of steelhead to be caught on the upper Columbia. Many anglers are just going to wait until March 1st when a whole bunch of lakes open to fishing in the Columbia Basin, and hope the ice clears from them by then.

By Dave Graybill

I hope you haven’t forgotten the big event coming up this weekend. It’s the 19th Annual Central Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Yakima. This is the biggest one in our region every year. Held at the Sundome in Yakima there is over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space crammed with stuff every outdoorsperson loves. There will be booths where you can check out hunting and fishing trips offered locally and all over the world. Guide services, boat dealers, manufacturers, they’re all here at this one. I also like what they’re doing to keep the kids busy. There is a trout pond, where the kids can actually catch a live fish and there are tagged fish in the pond that are worth a cash prize. There’s an air rifle range, too, and a special Activity Journal that the kids can fill out for prizes as well. I really like this one. Plan on keeping busy for a whole day. There’s a full schedules of seminars that are worth taking in while you’re there. Bring your check book; there are really hot deals on tackle and such. The show starts Friday and runs through Sunday. To learn all about the show log onto shuylerproductions.com.

By Dave Graybill

I hope you haven’t forgotten the big event coming up this weekend. It’s the 19th Annual Central Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Yakima. This is the biggest one in our region every year. Held at the Sundome in Yakima there is over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space crammed with stuff every outdoorsperson loves. There will be booths where you can check out hunting and fishing trips offered locally and all over the world. Guide services, boat dealers, manufacturers, they’re all here at this one. I also like what they’re doing to keep the kids busy. There is a trout pond, where the kids can actually catch a live fish and there are tagged fish in the pond that are worth a cash prize. There’s an air rifle range, too, and a special Activity Journal that the kids can fill out for prizes as well. I really like this one. Plan on keeping busy for a whole day. There’s a full schedules of seminars that are worth taking in while you’re there. Bring your check book; there are really hot deals on tackle and such. The show starts Friday and runs through Sunday. To learn all about the show log onto shuylerproductions.com.

By Dave Graybill

This would be a great time to get outdoors. Temperatures are going to hit the high 30s or low 40s throughout the region. This means it will be appealing to do some fishing that anglers haven’t been too eager to try for a while. If the really chilly temperatures have kept you away from the ice fishing lakes, this is a good time to give ice fishing a try. Mild temperatures and thick ice make for a good combination. There are opportunities to pursue this sport from Patterson Lake near Winthrop, Rat Lake near Brewster, clear down to Moses Lake and Long Lake in the Basin. I have been anxious to try for steelhead on the upper Columbia River from the shore. There is a lot of shelf ice near Pateros, but the bar below Wells Dam should be just fine. I want to drift a bobber or bounce some roe off the bottom through here. There just has to be some fish waiting for anglers there. I also plan on checking on the fishing above Rocky Reach Dam. There should be good numbers of steelhead swarming off the docks and points here. Rocky Ford will be worth a shop for fly fishers, too.

By Dave Graybill

The big event is almost here and if you don’t have your tickets yet, better hurry. The Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association’s Annual Game Feed and Auction is coming up on Monday, February 11th and tickets are going fast. This is a sell-out event for many reasons. Number one is the unique menu. It’s all wild game and it’s prepared with the help of a master chef. There just isn’t any other place you can partake of such unobtainable dishes. This event is the primary fund raiser for the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association that spends all the money locally for fish and game enhancement projects. They sponsor two events for kids with me every year and have incredible energy and a very active volunteer workforce. The silent auction is huge, and the variety of items up for bid is amazing. The live auction offers everything from custom knives, firearms, fun fishing and hunting trips and other getaways. Don’t think that this is just for the guys. Whole families come to the auction and there is special emphasis on auction items and prizes for the kids. I know you can still get tickets at One Shot Firearms, and when they run out they will tell you where to find them.

By Dave Graybill

The big event is almost here and if you don’t have your tickets yet, better hurry. The Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association’s Annual Game Feed and Auction is coming up on Monday, February 11th and tickets are going fast. This is a sell-out event for many reasons. Number one is the unique menu. It’s all wild game and it’s prepared with the help of a master chef. There just isn’t any other place you can partake of such unobtainable dishes. This event is the primary fund raiser for the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association that spends all the money locally for fish and game enhancement projects. They sponsor two events for kids with me every year and have incredible energy and a very active volunteer workforce. The silent auction is huge, and the variety of items up for bid is amazing. The live auction offers everything from custom knives, firearms, fun fishing and hunting trips and other getaways. Don’t think that this is just for the guys. Whole families come to the auction and there is special emphasis on auction items and prizes for the kids. I know you can still get tickets at One Shot Firearms, and when they run out they will tell you where to find them.

By Dave Graybill

It looks like another cold and snowy weekend here in Central Washington. That’s okay with the ice fishing crowd. It will actually be warmer than last weekend in the region. It’s just fine with downhill skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers, too. This winter is providing us with one of the longest and best seasons in years. I wanted to remind everyone of the great activity offered at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. They have free snowshoe tours, accompanied by a trained naturalist every Saturday and Sunday, but time is running out. The tours end on February, 10th, so you had better hurry and call the hatchery to make a reservation for one of these tours. They are limited to 12 people and kids age eight and up are welcome. The snowshoes are free and the tour starts at 10 a.m. and end at noon. You never know what you’ll see while you’re trekking along the trail. The naturalist explains how plants and wildlife deal with the harsh winter environment. To make a reservation for one of the tours, call the hatchery at 509-548-2921. This is a great to learn how to get out enjoy what winter has to offer here in Central Washington.

By Dave Graybill

What perfect conditions for fishing! For ice fishing that is. Looking ahead, temperatures are rising to just below freezing. What a heat wave. The good news is that winds are very moderate. This makes a huge difference when you’re standing on a frozen lake. People are taking advantage of the good ice. There are people out drilling holes and trying for perch and trout from the Moses Lake are to Sidley and Molson Lakes up north. Quite a few anglers are sharpening their augers in preparation for the 4th Annual Ice Fishing Derby at Molson Lake on February 16th. Last year’s event drew a big crowd and this year’s should be even bigger. If you’re going to spend a day on the ice, why not do it with the chance of winning some prizes along with a whole bunch of others who love the fun of fishing in the winter. I have even gotten e-mails from people as far away as Snohomish who are planning on taking part in the event. I hope to make up here myself. I have always wanted to fish Molson Lake, but I didn’t think my first trip would be in the winter!

By Dave Graybill

If you’re not a fan of ice fishing angling options are pretty scarce in our region right now. All the lakes, including Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir are all frozen. Even the rivers are ice bound. If you are a trout angler there is still some exciting fishing available at Rufus Woods Reservoir, with triploids to over 20 pounds taken recently. When the temperatures are as cold as they are ice fishing is the best option. There are lakes throughout the region available to anglers. Check out the latest issue of Washington-Oregon Fish and Game magazine. There is an article in there that I wrote that gives a description of the lakes in our region that are available to fishing in the winter months. I made another trip up to Patterson Lake, near Winthrop and also stopped by Davis Lake to check on the trout fishing. I will give you the details in the next report. Meanwhile, plan on attending the Central Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Yakima, it’s coming up on February 15th through 17th. This is the 19th year for this show and it’s largest in our region. Lots to see and tons of fun for kids, too.

By Dave Graybill

Many anglers are grabbing their ice augers and heading for their favorite ice fishing lakes. Patterson and Davis lakes up the Methow valley are offering very good fishing right now, as is Green Lake near Omak. Fish Lake near Lake Wenatchee is producing good catches of rainbow and perch. Roses Lake is loaded with rainbow, but access has been tough as the road hadn’t been plowed last I heard. Even more anglers are heading for Rufus Woods. It continues to be the best spot for big rainbow in our region. Shore fishing has slowed, but it is terrific by any standard. I talked to Bob Jateff from the Methow Field office of the Department of Fish and Wildlife the other day, and he had given Rufus a try. He got some jigs from Keith Roe, who really knows how to tie a jig, and found them to be very effective. Just a white jig fished below a bobber, without any bait, was all it took to keep him busy. He took home a two-fish limit, including one triploid weighing about 6 ½ pounds. Frank Burger sent a photo of his son Nick holding a 22-pounder taken at Rufus last week.

By Dave Graybill

It’s prime time for ice fishing in our region and after checking on the conditions at several area lakes, I opted too try Patterson Lake, which is up the Methow Valley, near Winthrop. My buddy Dave Eichler and his son Evan joined me for the trip, and boy, were they knocked out by the scenery. This was their first time up the Methow Valley and couldn’t believe the wildlife. We counted over 50 deer, including some nice bucks, at least eight bald eagles and two big blue herons flying up the river valley. You can see Sun Mountain Lodge just up the hill from Patterson and there are cabins at the top end of the lake. There only three anglers on the lake when we arrived, and just two more came along during the day. The ice is at least 10 inches thick, and didn’t pop or crackle at all. My ice auger was sharp and cut through this layer without a problem. The fishing was good. We had to move around a bit to find the perch, but trout were taken from just about every hole we drilled. The perch measured up to 11 inches and trout to 14. It’s a great spot, with easy access and fishing worth the trip.

By Dave Graybill

Here’s something for all the fly fishers out there. Add this date to your calendars: February 1st, 2nd and 3rd. These are the dates of the Fly Fishing Show West show in Bellevue. This is easily the largest fly fishing show in our region and it has everything you’d expect from a show its size. There are over 30 programs per day on how-to-fish and where to go every day. Fly tying demonstrations and instruction will be going on continuously throughout the show and the same is true with casting instruction. Door prizes, of course, at just about every vendor booth. Some real top names in the fly fishing industry will be on hand to conduct the fly tying and casting instruction, and to provide the programs on local to exotic trips for anglers. Something new this year is the Drake Magazine Fly Fishing Video Awards, so there will be some outstanding films to view. The show will take place at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue and kicks off on Friday the 1st at 10 a.m. To learn about the show, you can log onto flyfishingwestshow.com. If you’re a fly fisher this is the show for you. Make plans to attend.

By Dave Graybill

I have had serious itch to do some ice fishing for a while now, and I am going to scratch it this weekend. I have been looking around for safe ice and have decided to head up the Methow Valley and try Patterson Lake, which is just west of the town of Winthrop. The Department of Fish and Wildlife announced in December that the lake would be open to fishing through the winter, to take advantage of the abundance of yellow perch. I like that phrase: abundance of yellow perch. That has a lot of appeal to me. There are rainbow in the lake, too, so I plan on bringing home a mixed bag of cold-water rainbow perch for a feast. Fishing has been pretty fair at the lake already. I’ll take my ice auger, spud, and other gear, all loaded on a sled I got just for the purpose. I think I’ll throw in a propane heater. No need to suffer. The action should be pretty fast, and since the point of the special season is to remove perch from the lake, we’ll do our part and take a load home. Recent cold weather has improved ice conditions on other lakes in the region, but I haven’t tried Patterson and will give it a shot.

By Dave Graybill

The last report I got from the Department of Fish and Wildlife from Okanogan County indicated that few steelhead were being taken in the region. Although the Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers are all still open to fishing, there are few being tallied by their fish checkers. The main reason? Nobody is out fishing on these rivers. Sure, there are a hardy few, but most people are opting to stand near a fire on the banks of Rufus Woods and fish for triploid rainbow instead. However, anglers who are drifting bobbers in the upper Columbia River are nailing some fish. I spoke with Shane Magnuson of Upper Columbia Guide Service and he says he’s having a great time on the river. He will back troll plugs in some spots or drift a bobber and jig baited with shrimp in others, but he always finds enough fish to make for a great day. Recent catch counts include; six fish with four keepers, five fish with four keeps and ten fish with three keepers. I’d say that’s keeping busy. So, if you’ve caught your fill of triploids and aren’t interested in ice fishing, there’s still a lot of steelhead to be caught on the upper Columbia River.

By Dave Graybill

It’s still hard to beat Rufus Woods Reservoir as a destination for winter fishing fun. I talked to a fishing buddy at Valley Tractor the other day and he said it’s still easy to get a limit here. He complained that there are a lot of smaller fish in the Brandt’s Landing area, though, and he had to be satisfied with a limit of two, 15-inch fish. At the same time he told me some big fish stories. He mentioned that a fellow just down the beach from him hauled in an 18-pounder while he was fishing, and a friend was showing off a triploid that weighed over 19 pounds. The 19-pounder, by the way, was only 24 inches long. What a pig! He is actually excited about the month of February. It seems that every year some really big triploids are taken from Rufus Woods in February. Actually, three of the four last state records have come from Rufus Woods in this month. I don’t know what it is about the month of February. Maybe it’s because most of the hunting seasons are over and people are looking for something to do. More rods in the water mean more fish taken.

By Dave Graybill

We live in a winter wonderland here in Central Washington and there are some very special outdoor opportunities available. One that I really like is the Winter Life Snowshoe Tours that are offered through the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The tours are free, and the snowshoes provided. Better yet those who sign up the tours are accompanied by a trained naturalist. They will explain how plants and animals survive the winter months and describe the trails left by weasels, deer, coyotes and other local wildlife. The tours are limited to twelve people and last from 10 a.m. tilll noon every Saturday and Sunday through February 10th. Children age eight and up are welcome and no snowshoeing experience is necessary. Those who plan to take the tour should be prepared with warm clothes and winter boots. This is an outdoor adventure that the whole family would enjoy and a great way to get a glimpse of winter on the wild side. To make a reservation, call the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery at 509-548-2921. Be sure to call right away. As I mentioned the tours are only offered through February 10th and they fill up fast. The tours are sponsored by Friends of Northwest Hatcheries.

By Dave Graybill

Call me crazy (many do), as I can’t wait to dig out my ice auger, spud and assorted other pieces of gear and prepare for my first ice fishing trip. I have one planned for the weekend of January 19th with a couple of fishing buddies. It’s that time of year and there should be safe ice on a couple of local lakes by then. One of the first to freeze solid enough for safe fishing is Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee. Anglers have been out on the snowy surface for a while, but I’m a chicken, and want to fish without any worries about getting wet. Another is Roses Lake, near Manson at Lake Chelan. Both of these lakes offer very good fishing for rainbow trout. Fish Lake rainbow should be fat 11 or 12 inches, with the possibility of a triploid weighing up to 6 pounds. The lake is also a very popular spot for perch in the winter. Anglers here try to limit their catch, knowing that they will want to fish for perch in the summer, too. Roses Lake is loaded with catchable size rainbow, but also can produce trout from 18 inches and up, with some weighing up to 3 pounds.

By Dave Graybill

The weather is just plain yucky. It’s tough enough just driving to where you want to fish, let alone try to watch your line in the snow! Let’s think of some options when the weather is as nasty as it has been around here lately. One good one would be Rufus Woods Reservoir. The Corps of Engineers has been kind enough to put fireboxes along the shoreline in the parks above the dam. This makes the prospect of fishing in the snow a little more appealing. I have been here in the driving snow and people were having a ball. There was a fire roaring in the firebox and they were roasting hot dogs and catching fish. No worries. At the top end of the reservoir I have witnessed the same thing. You have to bring your own firebox or make a firepit when you’re fishing near the net pens, but the same party atmosphere exists here, even when the weather is foul. Another option would be on the PUD point on the Chelan County side of the Columbia River above Rocky Reach Dam. Anglers pack propane heaters and set along the shore here to fish for steelhead. Anglers are catching more steelhead here than anywhere else near Wenatchee now, too.

By Dave Graybill

I wanted to get back to everyone about the fishing at Rocky Ford Creek and how my trip panned out. I mentioned I was going to try the killer combo of the Jeremy’s Leech and Ultra Scud, and see if that would still work. Well, is sure does. I thought maybe the trout would be too lethargic to snap at this combo, and although I did very well, landing four real lunkers in about an hour’s fishing, I did notice that none of them hit the leech. All of the rainbow jumped on the Ultra Scud on this trip. I didn’t have to switch to the indicator and scud method, although I think it would work fine at Rocky Ford now. I will definitely put the Ultra Scud on the business end to start with, and then try other scuds or even an egg pattern if it doesn’t work. Ice is a problem. When you’re casting a stripping, it does build up in the rod guides. But hey, it’s worth it! If you haven’t heard there is another reason to head up the Methow Valley besides trying for steelhead. Patterson Lake is open this winter. This special winter season opens fishing to all game fish, expect bull trout, and is meant to target the abundant yellow perch in the lake.

By Dave Graybill

Happy New anglers! The new year has arrived and fishing opportunities abound! It was on this date just a few years ago that I landed the biggest rainbow of my life. I was on Rufus Woods, well below the net pens in a large bay, and I hooked and landed a 16-pound triploid. Everyone asked me if I was going to have it mounted, but I was sure I would catch a bigger one some day, so into the smoker it went. I still haven’t bested this catch, but the way things are going at Rufus Woods, I am still confident I will get a bigger one if I keep at it. Steelhead fishing is still going great guns on the upper Columbia. The fishing at Pateros has been great all season, and it should really heat up below Wells Dam. Ice fishing will be keeping anglers busy on Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee and at Rat Lake, near Brewster and some other lakes in Okanogan County. I will give you an update when I know more about ice conditions and catch rates at these ponds. Resolutions? You bet. I am resolved to fish more new water and talk about new fisheries, such as catfish, next year. I will report on new places near and far and expand the fishing horizons for myself and you, too!

By Dave Graybill

I have been getting a lot of calls and e-mails about ice fishing conditions on some of the lakes in the region, and I wanted to pass along some useful sources of current information so anglers can do some checking on their own. Safe ice is just day’s way at some of theses lakes. I have already dug out my ice auger, spud and selection of ice fishing jigs. This is a great way to spend the day in the winter over here, and I will be checking the long range forecast for some sunny days to spend on the ice. We get plenty of them through the winter here. A good way to check on Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee is to go to lakewenatcheeinfo dot com. You will find a web cam for Fish Lake, and you can actually see if there are anglers out on the ice. No better way to know if you want to plan a trip there than to see others having a good time. To check on Rat Lake near Brewster, give Bob at the Triangle Shell a call. His place is crossroads for anglers in the area and he can give you an update on the ice and catch rate. His number is 509-689-3473.

By Dave Graybill

I have been getting a lot of calls and e-mails about ice fishing conditions on some of the lakes in the region, and I wanted to pass along some useful sources of current information so anglers can do some checking on their own. Safe ice is just day’s way at some of theses lakes. I have already dug out my ice auger, spud and selection of ice fishing jigs. This is a great way to spend the day in the winter over here, and I will be checking the long range forecast for some sunny days to spend on the ice. We get plenty of them through the winter here. A good way to check on Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee is to go to lakewenatcheeinfo dot com. You will find a web cam for Fish Lake, and you can actually see if there are anglers out on the ice. No better way to know if you want to plan a trip there than to see others having a good time. To check on Rat Lake near Brewster, give Bob at the Triangle Shell a call. His place is crossroads for anglers in the area and he can give you an update on the ice and catch rate. His number is 509-689-3473.

By Dave Graybill

Expectation is everything in fishing. Anglers don’t head out in the winter time to admire the scenery. Everything is covered with snow. They expect to catch some fish for their suffering in the chilly weather. Thankfully, our region has a lot to offer and expectations are high for a successful day at several locations. The Wenatchee River has dropped back into fishing shape after the recent high water. I scouted the river the other day and found that it was running clear and no ice floes floating downstream to make things difficult. There should be a fresh bunch of steelhead in the stream waiting for hardy anglers. Rufus Woods continues to be the hot spot in the region, with good catches of fat triploid rainbow almost a ho-hum affair. Anyone can get a limit of trout at Rufus Woods, no matter what method you want to use. For fly fishers, Rocky Ford Creek is the salvation. This mile-long stretch of water near Ephrata runs ice-free all winter long and the fishing is excellent for very large rainbow trout. I have fished it recently with a leech, scud combo on a intermediate sinking line and have caught very good numbers of fish in an afternoon.

By Dave Graybill

I broke my bow-mount electric motor, and maybe that’s a good thing. Sure, it’s going to cost me to get it fixed, but it will force me to try some alternate methods of fishing for steelhead. I have gotten so used to having such good boat control while drifting bobbers on the upper Columbia, I just feel lost without that bow-mount motor. Now I will get back to doing some back-trolling. This is a deadly method of presenting baits to steelhead and I haven’t been doing much of it. To do this properly you need some current and there are several places that provide it. Below Wells Dam is one of my favorite places. Especially during the week you can count on enough current to get a good slide down along the bar below the dam. There is a very long stretch that is just built for back-trolling. Right off the mouth of the Wenatchee is another place worth a try. There are some shallow bars and slots that attract steelhead and back-trolling plugs is a good way to get their attention. Course, if the current fails me, I will certainly have a bobber rod along. Hey, you always have to have a backup plan!

By Dave Graybill

I’ve heard from two different sources now, so it must be true. The shore anglers are outdoing the boat fishers at Rufus Woods Reservoir now. These sources both explained that the water temperature at Rufus Woods has dropped recently as a result of the chilly weather and that may have something to do with the triploid bite being sluggish for trollers. The fish just aren’t as active and won’t chase down a spinner or trolled lure. They are perfectly willing to inhale a blob of dough bait or a nightcrawler or a bit of salmon roe. Both of my sources saw anglers on the shore keeping busy while they putted around in circles get just a few fish. One of the things a boat angler may want to try is slowing way down. Not only with the trolling speed, but even if you are casting from the boat. I finally got my hands on the Super Rooster Tail that Joe Heinlen, the guide on Rufus Woods, has been raving about. This has a spinner bait, willow leaf blade that will flutter at any speed. You don’t have to retrieve them as fast as a standard Rooster Tail. I know they’ll be deadly!

By Dave Graybill

Wow. What weird weather! It snows at night and then the next day I see the sun. What’s up with that? Here I have been canceling fishing trips, figuring it would be too gruesome to be anywhere near the water, and then the sun comes out and I am wondering what I am doing inside! Meanwhile I am watching lousy football games, or worse, working on my computer. Talking to anglers that are ignoring the forecasts and getting out are doing just fine. I hear that there are some steelhead being landed now on the Wenatchee River, in the Leavenworth area. The Methow River unfortunately is living up to the forecasts, and ice is real problem for anglers trying for steelhead. If you want to fish a small river for steelhead, the Wenatchee River is the choice right now. I made a visit to Wells Dam on the upper Columbia recently, and there are some fish hanging around here. Bank anglers are getting a few, but both bobber fishing and backtrolling plugs should be good here. The Pateros area on the Columbia is still producing steelhead, too. Rufus Woods is still going strong. Bank anglers make it look easy, getting limits in no time at all.

By Dave Graybill

I have briefly mentioned Rocky Ford Creek, which is near Ephrata, in some of my reports, and I want to provide more details for folks, fly fishers in particular who are really in need of a place to cast a line. I have had the chance to visit “The Ford” a couple of times this winter and have been thrilled at the fishing I’ve had. I am going to give much of credit to Jeremy Kendall, owner of Central Fly Fishing, a shop at the corner of 5th and Western streets in Wenatchee. He got me onto a combo presentation that has changed my world at Rocky Ford. He came up with a simply-tied, small leech pattern years ago, and I have caught fish stripping this in by itself. However, when I added an Ultra Scud a couple of feet behind the leech things really started to happen. This winter the combo has put me into double digits on two trips. I should also mention that I am using this killer combo when casting an intermediate sinking line. I was like many anglers, counting a two or three fish day a success at Rocky Ford. Not any more. Thanks Jeremy!

By Dave Graybill

Steelhead fishing conditions on the Methow River are tough right now. Clear and chilly nights have promoted the formation of ice in the river and that makes fishing difficult. Anglers are hoping for some warmer and cloudy weather to make things easier for them. The Wenatchee River, on the other hand, is running ice-free. The water could drop a bit more, but overall conditions are good for fishing for steelhead. Anglers who want to try for steelhead on both of these smaller streams are going to have to down size their offerings and slow down their presentations. Steelhead just aren’t going to chase down a bait in the chilly water. Trout fishing on the main stem Columbia is still going great guns, and Rufus Woods Reservoir is still attracting the biggest crowds. Two-fish limits of fat triploids are coming easily to anglers fishing at the top and bottom ends of the 50-mile long reservoir. Fly anglers who need some running water and some trout to satisfy their fishing urge should try Rocky Ford Creek near Ephrata. Good catches of very large rainbow can be had on this mile-long stretch of running water. Roses Lake near Manson is worth a shot before it freezes, too.

By Dave Graybill

Expectation is everything in fishing. Anglers don’t head out in the winter time to admire the scenery. Everything is covered with snow. They expect to catch some fish for their suffering in the chilly weather. Thankfully, our region has a lot to offer and expectations are high for a successful day at several locations. The Wenatchee River has dropped back into fishing shape after the recent high water. I scouted the river the other day and found that it was running clear and no ice floes floating downstream to make things difficult. There should be a fresh bunch of steelhead in the stream waiting for hardy anglers. Rufus Woods continues to be the hot spot in the region, with good catches of fat triploid rainbow almost a ho-hum affair. Anyone can get a limit of trout at Rufus Woods, no matter what method you want to use. For fly fishers, Rocky Ford Creek is the salvation. This mile-long stretch of water near Ephrata runs ice-free all winter long and the fishing is excellent for very large rainbow trout. I have fished it recently with a leech, scud combo on a intermediate sinking line and have caught very good numbers of fish in an afternoon.

By Dave Graybill

Although outdoor temperatures warmed to above freezing this past weekend, our streams are just settling down from dramatic increases in flows. It doesn’t take too long for the Wenatchee, Methow and others to subside to more normal flows, but anglers will fair better by fishing the upper Columbia for steelhead for a while. There were a couple of benefits to the rise of the rivers. One, it will draw some fresh steelhead into the streams, and disperse them throughout the river. When anglers get back to work fishing there should be some new biters waiting for them. Another is that a lot of the shore ice was cleared away. Flushed down river and into the Columbia the slush and ice won’t be as much of a problem for a while. While you’re waiting for the rivers to settle down, fishing at Rufus Woods is still a great option. Snowmobilers should take note that there is a free safety class being offered at the Lake Wenatchee Rec Club House on Saturday, December 15th, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class is for children ages 12 to 16. Call 1-800-501-7348 for more information.

By Dave Graybill

The whitefish season opened on several of the rivers in our region and there has been some confusion about the regulations. As an example, anglers have been able to use bait to fish for whitefish on the Wenatchee River. That was before there was a steelhead season. On all rivers that have a steelhead season this year, and that’s most of the rivers in our region, bait isn’t allowed, and these steelhead regulations are the ones to follow to be legal. That means if you are fishing for whitefish this year, you can’t use bait. That includes the Wenatchee, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers. You can use bait on the Entiat and other rivers not open to steelhead fishing. There have been lots of reports of anglers fishing for steelhead taking whitefish incidentally on the Wenatchee and Methow river already, so anglers who are fishing for whitefish intentionally should do well. Whitefish are not only plentiful and fun to catch they are excellent table fare, especially when smoked. Fishing for both whitefish and steelhead should be good when the rivers settle down after the recent snow and rain. Fresh flows should draw fresh fish from the Columbia into these streams.

By Dave Graybill

Even before the recent rain and show drove anglers off the Wenatchee and Methow rivers, the pressure by fishers on steelhead had dropped off significantly. Hardly anyone was fishing due to the cold weather and what surprised me even more was that there were few people out on the main stem Columbia. Success was low on the small rivers, but those who fished the Columbia were logging consistent success on steelhead. I got a chance to hit the Columbia with my buddy Shane Magnuson of Upper Columbia River Guide Service over the past weekend and he proved that there are plenty of steelhead to be taken in the Pateros area. I had caught three fish in less than two hours, including two keepers, and we weren’t done. We only fished until about noon and released two more wild fish and missed a bunch of good bobber bouncing hits. We were very busy for the few hours we were on the water. If you have been fishing the smaller rivers and coming up empty, make the trip to Pateros and you’ll very likely be able to punch your card. Shore access is good at Pateros and above and below Wells Dam.

By Dave Graybill

When temperatures drop and the snow flies, anglers will often abandon their boats and look for good places to fish from shore. Can’t blame them. Running around in a boat in sub-freezing temperatures can take the edge off the day, even when the fishing is good. I have mentioned a couple of spots that are attractive for fishing from shore in earlier reports, and here is a couple more. One would be Roses Lake, near Manson. There is some shore access here and you can set up your propane heater and cast to good water. The big attraction is that the lake was recently planted with thousands of catchable size rainbow trout, and they always throw in a good number of whoppers to make things interesting. Holdovers at Roses will be over 14 inches and some over 20. Up at Banks Lake a popular spot in the winter is the dike at the marina in Coulee City. People set up their rod holders and heaters near the point at the entrance to the boat basin here and relax and wait for the fish to bite. This time of year, anglers can expect to take a limit of very fat 14-inch and larger rainbow for their efforts.

By Dave Graybill

When I saw the forecast for the weekend I altered my fishing plans. Running around in my boat would be brutally cold. If you have a windshield or cover on your boat, don’t hesitate. I’d hit the upper Columbia at Pateros for steelhead. The chilly weather has pulled a lot of fish out of the Methow River and you could be waiting for them in the main stem Columbia. There are very good numbers of steelhead in the Columbia and success for anglers fishing the bobber and jig method is very good. The number of hatchery fish over wild fish is very good, too, with lots of anglers taking home limits of steelhead. Bank fishing above Wells Dam would be worth a shot, too. Bring something to help keep you warm, like some packet warmers or a propane heater and wait for the bobber to go down. I haven’t heard about the fishing above Rocky Reach Dam but it should be going strong by now. I’ll do some checking and get back to you on that. Of course Rufus Woods is a good choice. Bring some wood for the firebox and cast away for the triploids that are still abundant above the dam at Bridgeport.

By Dave Graybill

The weather may be a bit colder, but the fishing remains hot on several fronts here in North Central Washington. Rufus Woods Reservoir is still attracting most of the crowds, and anglers are still collecting big catches of fat triploid rainbow on the reservoir. They are being taken at the top end near the net pens and clear down at the bottom end near Bridgeport. Shore anglers here are catching their share of these triploids, and taking advantage of the great facilities provided by the Corps of Engineers. The fireboxes and picnic tables make fishing here a pleasure. Another red hot fishery is Roses Lake, near Lake Chelan. Thousands of catchable rainbow were recently planted here and anglers are cashing in. These plants have been a regular deal the past three years. The rainbow are put in the lake to boost the winter fishing, but there isn’t any ice here yet so shore anglers and trollers are having a ball. Take care on the launch. It gets icy. Steelhead fishing is slow on the Wenatchee and Methow rivers, but the main stem Columbia is producing limits of 6 to 7-pound fish.

By Dave Graybill

I stopped in at Big Wally’s in Coulee City recently, to visit with Gordon Steinmetz there. One of his people came in all red faced and harried. Rosie was apologizing for running late, but the fishing was so good at the marina she didn’t have time to clean her catch before coming to work. Gordon understood. This wasn’t the first time Rosie was running late due to fishing. Before she rushed out to clean her catch, she proudly showed me a bucket heavy with two big rainbow. The trout were at least 15 inches and probably weighed a pound and a half. She has been getting fish like this pretty regularly when she has a morning to fish. She sets up right at the entrance to the marina, where the channel leads to the main lake at Banks, and a limit of these fat rainbow isn’t unusual. Trout fishing at Banks remains one of the most overlooked fisheries in our region. The fall trout bite can be quite good, with limits of 15-inch rainbow very common, and there are rainbow weighing up to 4 and 6 pounds possible here. Fishing off the shore in marina is a good spot, and trolling the south end of Banks very productive.

By Dave Graybill

I would encourage every angler to give Rufus Woods Reservoir a try right now. I would also encourage them to leave the bait behind. You just don’t need it, and you’ll avoid the temptation to break the rules. There are so many fish available at Rufus Woods that casting Rooster Tails is all you need to do to catch them—even from shore. The daily limit at Rufus Woods is two fish, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife is writing a lot of tickets for over limits. The violations for over limits and high grading continue to be such a problem that they are pulling in officers from throughout our region to help out. Some bait fishers just can’t seem to help themselves. Catching and releasing many 2- to 3-pound fish to keep a larger one. They are killing a significant number of fish this way, and there is a no tolerance policy on the part of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and Colville Tribal officers. These tickets aren’t cheap either. The minimum cost to an angler for over limit or high grading is $109.00! If you fish with no bait you only have to keep injured fish, and if you flatten the barb on your hook, you can catch a lot of fish and released them unharmed.

By Dave Graybill

This is a big Holiday week, with lots of friends and family visiting for the long weekend. My family always takes advantage of this time together to plan a big fishing trip. This year it will probably be to Rufus Woods. We never seem to get the kids out fishing often enough, and this is a great opportunity to give them a busy day of fishing. My daughter will be visiting and we haven’t had a chance to fish together for quite a while, and it will be even more fun having a couple of my nieces along, too. It could get a little wild with so many rods flinging Rooster Tails from my boat, but it will just make it more exciting. The last time we tried an adventure like this my brother and I spent most of our time running to unhook fish or untangle lines, but we enjoyed immensely. So other options for a day with the family on a brisk fall day would be Fish Lake, near Lake W