Reports From The Water

Lake Roosevelt Fishing Report | February 2026

Report by Capt. Austin Moser Austin Moser guides big-trout and kokanee trips across Washington waters including Rufus Woods and Lake Roosevelt for Catch America. Shop Austin Moser's tackle. What is working right now 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 From the report (Capt. Austin Moser): This lake is known for really big kokanee, and we're really hoping to get one today. So, we're going to run these T-Pexes from Catch America. We've been getting a lot of bites on this T-Pex, and that is the gold and orange color. We also got a new scent on the market called Trophy Kokanee, which I developed. Lake Roosevelt February 2026 FAQ What was the biggest fish on Rufus Woods?A 10-pound wild redband rainbow, a native landlocked steelhead, caught on a jig. What T-Pex color worked on Lake Roosevelt?Gold and orange, which got bit repeatedly while trolling. How does Austin add scent for kokanee?Pink-dyed corn with a Gulp maggot to hold it, plus his Trophy Kokanee scent from Catch America. How far behind the planer board does Austin run lures?About 130 feet behind the board, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart to reduce tangles. Is Lake Roosevelt good for kokanee?Yes, it is known for really big kokanee, with triploid rainbows as steady by-catch. Is February prime time on these Washington waters?It varies. Some Februarys are excellent with fish over 20 pounds, but conditions change year to year. What did Austin tip his jig with on Rufus Woods?A trimmed Trix Minnow from Catch America, cut down so fish still reach the hook. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Hawken Simon Hot Tails Trix Minnows 5 Pack Trophy Kokanee UV Scent Shop Austin Moser's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear