(Nespelem, Wash. May 25, 2021) – The Colville Indian Reservation has opened and now is the time to go fishing on Rufus Woods Lake.

Staff from the Colville Tribal Fish Hatchery (CTFH) released over 44,200 triploid rainbow trout into Rufus Woods Lake in early spring, and another 20,000 fish on Wednesday, May 26.  These fish averaged about two pounds each and can be identified by the absence of an adipose fin. A floy tag was affixed to approximately 4,000 fish from this release group.

 Anglers that retain tagged fish are encouraged to contact Colville Tribes’ Fish and Wildlife and provide the tag number and information related to the catch (date, location, length, and the approximate size) or login into www.cctfwfishtags.com/report-a-tag to report a tagged fish electronically.  This information assists biologists in managing annual fish releases into Rufus Woods Lake.

       All non-members who are fishing by boat on the boundary waters of the reservation or from the shore of Rufus Woods at the Designated Fishing Area (DFA) must have either a valid Colville Indian Reservation Fishing Permit or a valid fishing license issued by the State of Washington.  Non-members fishing from the reservation shoreline outside of the DFA must have a tribal permit.  At this time, there is only one DFA at Rufus Woods Lake which is located downstream of the Pacific Aquaculture Fish Farm net pens.  

 Colville tribal members must possess a Colville tribal identification card that serves as a permit to fish.

 If you would like to go online and purchase a fishing permit and review current regulations, please go to https://www.cct-fnw.com/regulations-permits/.  There is also a list of vendors who sell our fishing permits listed in the regulation booklet. (This list may change from year to year). Anglers who purchase tribal permits help support the continued success of this fishery. For information regarding purchasing a Reservation Use Pass, which must be purchased for each vehicle on the reservation, please go to: https://www.colvilletribes.com/parks-recreation.

Staff from the Colville Tribes’ trout hatchery began stocking Rufus Woods Lake in March 2021 with triploid rainbow trout that averaged 5.4 pounds each and can be identified by the absence of an adipose fin.  A total of 1,550 fish were stocked in the lake during the first weeks of March. An additional stocking event into Rufus Woods Lake at the end of March added approximately 18,700 adipose clipped triploid rainbow trout that average 1.5 pounds each.

 

We encourage the membership to take advantage of this opportunity the hatchery is providing.  All anglers are encouraged to provide information associated with their catch (e.g., date, location, boat or shore fishing, and approximate size) to creel personnel or by calling the Colville Tribes’ Fish and Wildlife Department at (509) 634.2110.

The Colville Tribes Resident Fish Hatchery staff released over 12,000 triploid rainbow trout averaging almost 2 pounds each into Rufus Woods Lake between March 19, and March 26, 2019. All released fish can be identified by the absence of an adipose fin. Approximately 2,000 were also implanted with a plastic anchor tag. Anglers that catch tagged fish are encouraged to provide tag number and information related to the catch (i.e. date, location, length, and approximate size) by logging into www.cctfwfishtags.com/report-a-tag. This information assists CCT Biologists in managing annual fish releases into Rufus Woods Lake.

A release of 14,290 triploid Rainbow Trout into Rufus Woods Lake occurred on May 25th. The trout averaged 1.7 pounds each. In the upstream reaches of Rufus Woods near the net pens, fish should be contributing to angler catches immediately after the release. In general, these fish will begin to show up in the downstream portions of the lake approximately one to two weeks after the release.

As of May 12, 2016, the Colville Confederated Tribes Non-member fishing regulation for Walleye on Rufus Woods Lake officially changed to eight Walleye per day with no more than one over 22 inches with a minimum size of 12 inches. Prior to May 12, 2016, the Non-member regulations stated that the limit was five Walleye per day with not more than one over 22 inches with a minimum size of 12 inches. The effective Walleye regulations are the same as those stated in the current Washington Sport Fishing Rules.

On April 20, 2016, the Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department released approximately 11,000 triploid Rainbow Trout into Rufus Woods Lake near the upper net pen site.