We are having more and more spring-like days, and people are starting to get out and about on the water. I checked out the Quincy Trout Derby, and it was great event. Plus, I had another great day on Rufus Woods, fishing for the recently released triploid rainbow trout.

I traveled to the Quincy Wildlife Area last Saturday, to see how the annual Quincy Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby turned out. As I approached the lake, I could see several boats out on the calm water and many anglers fishing from the shore. It was easy to spot the Derby Headquarters. The organizers and volunteers were set up near the boat launch on Quincy Lake. The weight and measure station was under a tent and surrounded by derby prizes. Once again, local sponsors were generous. The adult angler that turned in the longest fish was Sergio Pena and he won a 36 inch Blackstone Grill and Fryer combo. The adult winner for cumulative weight was Colton Granger and he took home a Blackstone Grill with shelves. The youth winner for longest fish was John Carlos Moralez, and he won a Playstation 2 with the Spiderman game. The youth cumulative weight was George Rici, and his prize was a Nintendo with the Sports Switch.

Before the raffle numbers were announced, all the kids were asked to come up to the front. They all received a rod and reel or a tackle box for being part of the event. Congratulations Quincy Chamber, great job!

Last Tuesday was a spectacular day. I met my fishing friend Dennis Beich at Big Wally’s at 8 o’clock and we headed for the middle net pens on Rufus Woods with the Smoker Craft in tow. There were several trucks and trailers in the parking lot when we launched. Many of the boats were headed upriver looking for walleye. I made a swing below the middle pens while Dennis parked the truck and trailer and didn’t see enough fish on the fish finder to bother fishing there. We ran up the river a ways and I slowed down so we could get a good look at the bottom with the Garmin. It took a little looking, but the screen soon showed some fish. I launched the Minn Kota and put it on Spot Lock. We caught fish, but I wasn’t satisfied. I moved the boat a short distance and the screen lit up with what I was looking for—scads of fish! We used a variety of marabou jigs, grubs and even a swim bait and they all worked. We got hit on just about every cast and had many doubles. The sun was out and there was just a gentle breeze. What a great day. Thank you, Colville Tribe, the fishing is phenomenal. This week’s photo is of my friend Dennis at Rufus Woods.

Since I was headed to Rufus Woods to fish with a friend on Tuesday. I left early enough to make a detour to Billy Clapp Lake to check on the dock and launch. I was very pleased to see the dock floating and the ramp usable. Billy Clapp is on my list of places I like to fish in the early spring. My friends and I have had some great mornings here, trolling for rainbow trout. Billy Clapp typically is planted with several thousand catchable rainbow every year, and it also receives thousands of kokanee fry. I have found the trout fishing best in the early season, and we have had good success trolling a variety of crank baits. The fish are usually shallow then, and we either flatline them behind the boat, or on side planers. I have to admit that we have been disappointed in the trout fishing the past two seasons, but you never know when it could turn out to be great again. We also like to try for the kokanee in Billy Clapp. We usually don’t catch a bunch, but they are often fifteen inches in length or even larger. We do our kokanee fishing in July.

There are changes happening that herald the beginning of one of the more popular spring fisheries in the region. I have friends that live along Crab Creek above where it flows into Moses Lake. They have reported that the flow in the creek has really ramped up in recent days. That is always followed with the migration of walleye into the creek, and walleye fishing heats up in the area known as The Fill, which is above the Highway 17 Bridge. The irrigation canals are also filing, and all of this means that good walleye fishing in Moses Lake should turn on soon. Moses Lake is shallow and the water warms up earlier than other big reservoirs, like Banks Lake. An area of the lake that walleye anglers will be focusing on will be at the very top end, below where Rocky Ford Creek enters the lake. Walleye gather in the shallow water, and trolling side planers with spinners and nightcrawlers is a very effective method for getting the fish. Anglers will be trolling in water that is only three to five feet deep. Fishing is great until the weeds grow enough to foul lines or the lake turns over.

The family friendliest fishing derby ever is coming up on April 11th through the 13th. It’s the Banks Lake Triple Fish Challenge, conducted by Reel Recreation. It kicks off with Fun Friday, with a variety of activities. They include a trout pond, gold panning, golf, a climbing wall, and the Ninja Climb. To satisfy your hunger and thirst, there will be a lemonade stand, cotton candy and a taco stand. On Saturday and Sunday anglers will take on the challenge of catching three species. They must catch a bass, a walleye and a “kicker” species, which could be a whitefish or a rainbow trout. If they can do this two days in a row, they qualify for the prizes. Each day, the heaviest rainbow trout, walleye, bass, and whitefish in adult and youth divisions will be awarded prizes. Youth anglers will receive prizes for each day’s heaviest 3 fish stringers. In the Adult class, the angler with the heaviest 6 fish total (2 bass, 2 walleye, and 2 “kicker” fish) will win the Grand Prize. You can register and get all of the rules by logging on to ReelRecreation.com. I hope to see you there!