Lake Roosevelt Fishing Report | February 2026
The report at a glance
Presentation
At Rufus Woods, pitch jigs and add a trimmed Trix Minnow in line with the jig. At Lake Roosevelt, troll the T-Pex and Hawken Hot Tails with pink dyed corn and Gulp maggots, tipped with Trophy Kokanee scent. Run planer boards off a tower system, 150 feet of line to the board and baits set 130 feet back, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart.
Lures and baits
Jigs tipped with trimmed Trix Minnows (Rufus Woods)
T-Pex spoons in gold and orange (Lake Roosevelt)
Hawken Hot Tails, tipped with pink corn, Gulp maggots, and Trophy Kokanee scent
Move the bead on the T-Pex to change the action
Other techniques
Jigging (Rufus Woods); planer board trolling off a tower system with line counter reels
Weather
Day one: non-stop snow, temperatures starting around 17 degrees, wind the biggest factor, lines freezing
Advice for this week
Line counter reels are important for planer board trolling so you know exactly where everything is, which minimizes tangles. Adjust the bead spacing on the T-Pex to dial in the action, and trim soft plastics so they hang naturally on the jig for a clean hookset.
Next week
Winter can be a grind, but Austin puts big fish in the boat all season. Some years February is prime and other years January edges it out, so keep at it and cover water on the big lakes.
Notable catch
Rufus Woods gave up a personal best 10 pound wild redband rainbow, a native landlocked steelhead, caught jigging.
Winter fishing with Capt. Austin Moser split two Washington waters in February 2026. Rufus Woods gave up giant triploid and wild redband rainbows up to 10 pounds on jigs tipped with a trimmed Trix Minnow. On Lake Roosevelt, troll T-Pexes in gold and orange and Hawken Hot Tails behind planer boards for kokanee and triploids, sweetened with pink corn and Trophy Kokanee scent.
What is biting on Rufus Woods in winter?
Big triploid rainbows and wild redband rainbows are the prize on Rufus Woods. In brutal 17-degree, snowy conditions, the crew jigged up a 10-pound redband, a landlocked steelhead native to the water. Austin adds a trimmed Trix Minnow to his jig for extra attraction, since the fish bite it hard.
What lures work for Lake Roosevelt kokanee and trout?
Troll T-Pexes from Catch America, especially the gold and orange color, which got bit repeatedly. Hawken Hot Tails rigged with a fly or beads also produced. Roosevelt is known for big kokanee, with triploid rainbows as steady by-catch. Adjust the T-Pex bead spacing to tune the action.
How do you sweeten baits on Lake Roosevelt?
Austin runs pink-dyed corn tipped with a Gulp maggot so the bait stays put, then adds his Trophy Kokanee scent, which he developed and Catch America produces. The scent draws kokanee, trout, and even sockeye. The maggot holds the fragile corn in place so you always have bait working.
How is Austin rigging planer boards on Lake Roosevelt?
He runs planer boards off a tower system with 150 feet of line per side, covering 300 feet of water per pass. Lures go out 130 feet behind the board, clipped on, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart to cut tangles. Line counter reels keep everything dialed in.
How tough are the winter conditions up there?
Very tough. The crew fished two days in 17-degree cold with non-stop snow and freezing lines, plus wind that dictated how they fished. Austin notes some Februarys are prime, with several fish over 20 pounds landed in past years, but it varies year to year.
Watch the full report
Lake Roosevelt February 2026 FAQ
A 10-pound wild redband rainbow, a native landlocked steelhead, caught on a jig.
Gold and orange, which got bit repeatedly while trolling.
Pink-dyed corn with a Gulp maggot to hold it, plus his Trophy Kokanee scent from Catch America.
About 130 feet behind the board, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart to reduce tangles.
Yes, it is known for really big kokanee, with triploid rainbows as steady by-catch.
It varies. Some Februarys are excellent with fish over 20 pounds, but conditions change year to year.
A trimmed Trix Minnow from Catch America, cut down so fish still reach the hook.
