I have had a few reports from Rufus Woods this winter, but nothing to get excited about. When I checked in Bob Fateley at the Triangle Exxon in Brewster, I finally got the kind of report I have been waiting for. Water temperatures have dropped and the fishing for big triploid rainbow at Rufus has turned on. According to Fateley, many of the shore anglers have been limiting.

Those who are casting from the Corps of Engineers Parks above the dam have been doing well, and one angler, fishing at Brandts weighed in a 13 ?-pounder. Trollers are also getting in on the action. They are having their best luck trolling along the edges of the weed beds. This is what I have been waiting to hear, and is the signal for good fishing at Rufus Woods Reservoir for the winter season, which is the most popular.

Most of the anglers that Fateley was talking to were fishing from the dam up stream, but anglers fishing from the top end down should also be experiencing better action. He said that the reports from anglers he is getting now is the best he has had in at least a year.