I had a great conversation with Jill Phillips, with the Colville Tribe’s Fish and Wildlife Department. I had left a message asking if she knew where all the small trout being caught in Rufus Woods were coming from. She said they hadn’t released any fish for months and she doubted they came from the net pens. Most likely they were coming downstream from Lake Roosevelt. They may have released some trout from some of the net pens they operate up there. She did say that there would be a release of bigger trout sometime in February. These should be 4 to 5 pounds and put in at Seatons Grove and above Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport. This should give anglers something to look forward to this winter. Also, she said they plan on releasing the same number of triploids into Rufus Woods as usual next year, which is 45 to 50 thousand. I mentioned my great trips to Omak Lake, and she told me a fish that could have been the new state record was taken there last spring. Going by the length and girth measurement, the Lahontan cutthroat probably weighed over 18 pounds, and would have beat the current record.