As we frequently are getting questions on what we use on Rufus Woods from various folks, I thought to post a few pics with some explanations of our process. One thing about fishing is there is no "Magic Bullet for every fishing trip (unless your a redneck using A Dupont Sizzling Spinner), so everything you see and read here is just some of the things that have produced for us over the time we have been fishing the mighty RW. Please feel free to find humor in the pics of my attemps to Tie flies and jigs (I know I have to laugh at some on the concoctions I turn out LOL) And feel free to ask questions or send comments. This is in no way a tutorial, just sharing what we have used on the RW, so enjoy if you can.



The above pic shows some of the plastic baits we use (some of them are from our panfish lures). Over the years there have been hundreds, so only a few here. When we share our baits and techniques, we often hear, that's how I fish for bass, or panfish or something else. Yes, it's not your everyday Trout techniques, but then I've never been acused of staying within the box.



We use the tube-jig head in the 1/16 oz most of the time. There are times when we will go heaver when we wish to fish deeper than 20 feet or so, or in heaver current.








We will often use just a marabou jig with a chenille body, and our best producers have been white/pink and Black both with a bit of Crystal Flash.





For me it seems important to have the hackle wrap, as opposed to just having a chenille body.


Jig n minnow.




One thing that is really important when using the "Crooked Tail Minnow" is to put an in-line swivel 4-8 inches above the jig. Otherwise line twist will eat ya up.
I can't explain why (other than the size of natural baitfish) the small minnow immitations work better for us than larger (3-4") but they do.

The Paddle tail (?) seems to produce though not consistently for us, but we always have some in the box Just in case.




The B-2 Squid was a hot item for us last winter, and  trout have fallen for them this year but just not as hot. I'm hoping with the cooler water temps they will  be the ticket. The ones pictured are 2", but I have caught 10" trout on a 5" B-2, Go figure.
 If I'm working the B-2 through the weedbeds, I'll rig it with a weedless hook, but otherwise a bullet weight (inside the body) and regular hook, or a jig head (1/8oz or bigger) is how I usually rig them.






Another look at some of the plastics that have accounted for numerous RW tripps. On the various Craws I have used, I would have to pinch the claws off  the tiny craws  and the tails off the larger ones to get bites.


The hardware we use most are the ones below. We have caught lots of the tripps on various collors, but the Perch or Firetiger colors for the Crocodiles, and Firetiger, Blue/silver, and Green/silver in the Kastmasters have been the steady producing colors. In the Super RoosterTails, the dark colors have been better for me, although others have better luck with different colors.



When I go weedless with the B-2 Squids these are what I use, although I have tried other methods of hooking the plastics Basser style, I'm more comfortable with this method.


And lastly but not to be left out. The famed Pellet Fly.  Way back when I first started looking at WL, I read reports by "Outdoor Chris", and his Pellet Fly. I actually got to witness him and his wife flyfishing with his fly at RW, and it was unreal the success they were having. THEN Big-D hit the scene with his Version of the Pellet fly. I have used Big-D's flies with success, and have since tied some of my own. At times they are so hot you have to hunker down in the boat to tie one of them on. LOL   I have even fished for and caught yellow perch on the things, not to mention Bluegill. These pictured have been chewed on so don't have the crisp clean lines anymore. Also what box would be complete without a "Barbie" version of the pellet fly. LOL. So tie up a few to have in your box when you go to RW. When I don't want to use them with my Fly outfit and am using the spinning outfit, I'll just clip a small split shot about 8-12 inches on my line above the fly.



One thing I don't have a pic of that shoud be in every tackle box is the bullet weight in front of a "Wiggle Fin trailing a wooly Bugger style fly for trolling. Joe from  Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing Guide  Showed me this set up, and he has boated loads of trout with the set up. I'm working on a casting version of this, and have great expectations for it.

I hope this answers some of the questions out there, and as I said, Please feel free to shoot any comments or questions you may have. If any of this info helps in any way to put a fish on the line, then it was worth the trouble (considerable for me-first timers syndrom).
Here wishing all of you good luck and enjoyment in our great outdoors.