North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine October 2016 | Page 46

T

o date, the returning numbers are low
and right now it does not look good.
These are some of the lowest numbers I
have seen since 1997. All we can do is sit
and wait, keeping fingers crossed, that the
numbers will increase.
Now what to do if, in fact, we don’t have
a steelhead season? Do not fret for all
is not lost. When it comes to fly fishing
opportunities here in the North Country,
there are a couple of options open to those
of us who ply the water with our fly rods.
There is a section of the Columbia River
that is known as Rufus Woods. This is the
impounded water behind Chief Joseph
Dam. The reservoir is approximately 51
miles long. One side boarders the Colville
Confederate Tribe’s reservation. Going up

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the reservoir to the other end, you come
to Grand Coulee Dam. There are places in
Rufus Woods that are over 150’ deep. The
surrounding hillsides are a combination of
grass and sage bush, with the occasional
mix of trees. Some of the shore is a mix of
shale and granite that forms shelves and
islands. It is not uncommon to see a variety
of wildlife such as deer, coyote, bobcat and
more recently, Pronghorn antelope. There is
also an abundance of bird life to be seen.
Most anglers know of this fishery for its
triploid rainbow trout. They do nothing but
eat and grow. The state record of over 29
lbs. was caught in Rufus Woods over 10
years ago. Besides the triploid rainbows,
there are Redband rainbows, standard
rainbows and a few brown trout that prowl