Rufus Woods to Pens

[Whidbeyfisherman]

What is the best way to get to the pens if your in Pateros? I have a 14 aluminum with a 9.9 hp engine. Opinions please?
Thanks!

[Big D]

Drive up to Grand Coulee dam and launch at Seatons Grove.

[Whidbeyfisherman]

Anyone know of a launch near the pens? Just had to be good enough to get the 14' in.

[blufin loui]

Anyone know of a launch near the pens? Just had to be good enough to get the 14' in.

Hey Whidbeyfisherman, it is around 25 miles up to the lower most set of pens from the Chief Joseph Dam at Bridgeport. A little too far for the 9.9 because of the potential windy stretches of river this time of year. If you go to Seaton's Grove, it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12 miles down stream to the uppermost set of pens. (please correct me if I'm wrong). There is also a small unimproved "gravel" launch right below the uppermost set of pens that might be an option. I've never used it, but have seen several boats launch out of there. Maybe someone will chime in on that one. It is only a short run down to the second set of pens from there also.

[Whidbeyfisherman]

Thanks for the information! If anyone else knows anything about this gravel launch i would love the input, such as is there parking? Also Loui, where is this gravel launch and how do you get to it?

[mics]

if this the one just before rufus woods ,the fish from the bank area . need to be aware of water flow. have seen guys get stuck way out there because the water flow got changed between the time they put in till the time they came out. after the gravel,its mud and muck.just something to think about

[Whidbeyfisherman]

What side is this gravel launch on up by the pens? North colville side or south Douglas?

[Mike Carey]

Cabin by the River has a launch which you can pay to use. I think it's like a 4 mile run or so.

[Whidbeyfisherman]

Thanks mike, where is this cabin by the river?

[wolverine]

You won't have any problems launching/retrieving a 12' boat from the rough gravel launch between the pens. Its shallow for quite a ways out and anything over 16' or with a bunk style trailer will have difficulty.

[Whidbeyfisherman]

THanks Wolverine, good info! the launch is on the columbia river road side/pen side right? and can you park by the launch?

[Whidbeyfisherman]

You won't have any problems launching/retrieving a 12' boat from the rough gravel launch between the pens. Its shallow for quite a ways out and anything over 16' or with a bunk style trailer will have difficulty.

Also, just to clarify, this launch is between the upper two?

[Matt]

If you launch right above chief jo you can fish up and down the flotation buoy's out in front of the dam, people call the area the "Can line" and it can be pretty productive sometimes. It is literally right at the launch so that would work well for your setup. You don't have to drive to the pens to get into fish, there are a few other spots within a couple miles of that chief jo launch that could be an option for you.

[Mike Carey]

Thanks mike, where is this cabin by the river?

Here's the Cabin Web Site(they are one of our sponsors)

And here's Video we did of the Lake Roosevelt Fishery which shows the Cabin and it's boat launch. The Cabin is at 4:53.