Big Wally’s Fishing Report

February 4, 2012

Banks Lake

Water level is still on the rise. It still has a good ways to go to return to full pool, but the water level has now risen to the point that there is water in the Coulee City Marina (enough to float the docks). The lake does have a good layer of ice from Steamboat Rock down to the south end. Most of the north end of the lake is free of ice. The Coulee Playland and Northrup Boat Launches are usable at this time. Conditions are changing day to day on the lake due to the influx of water as well as the weather. With some warm weather, hopefully we will see the lake ice free soon. When it does become open, target walleye in deeper areas around Barker Flats, Steamboat Rock, and Barker Canyon using Blade Baits or using crawler harnesses behind 2-3 ounce bottom bouncers. Once ice free, look for smallmouth in depths of 25-50 feet in areas around Barker Canyon and Steamboat Rock using Yamamoto Hula and Single Tail Grubs on ½-1 ounce football head jigs as well as Sniper Snubs and Bolts on a dropshot rig.

Rufus Woods

Some good reports still coming from Rufus Woods. Numerous trout in the 1-4 pound range are coming from Rufus Woods. These triploids are being taken on an assortment of lures and baits ranging from Mack’s Lures Double Whammys, Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders (both tipped with nightcrawlers), to PowerBait and Marshmallows for those anchored up or fishing from shore. Although the bite has not been red hot, a few walleye have also been taken at Rufus Woods by fishermen using crawler harnesses or jigs bounced on the bottom.