It's a good idea to call Tacoma Power or check their website for current water levels. Learn More, 02/05/2023 Try playing around with herring and shrimp scents on your lures. Determine which day is best for you the bag your best catch on Riffe Lake. An effective and common approach here is similar to the techniques for trolling for trout or kokanee elsewhere. If the winds pick up enough to make controlling your boat difficult, try trolling with the wind. On the hook, especially on light tackle, smallmouth are strong fighters for their size. Riffe Lake Near Mossyrock is located in Lewis County in Washington. The wild cutthroats and browns are targeted by a minority of anglers, but if you try this we suggest you work the waters near the mouths of incoming tributaries, particularly at the eastern (upper) end of the reservoir. To better understand fishing patterns, conditions to predict ferocity of fishable events and locations. Some swear by cured shoepeg corn. Learn More, 02/05/2023 Bank fishing by the dam with a sliding bobber with Shrimp and worms can also produce fish. Well cover this more in a blog post soon but for Riffe Lake on Fri 3rd March will be from a south westerly direction which means fishing is optimal. If you use bait, each catch will be counted towards your limit even if released. Winter Steelhead are starting to show up in the Kalama river. However, there are decent spots to fish from shore at both ends of the dam on the west side and at and Taidnapam Park at the upper (east) end of the reservoir, where there also is a fishing bridge. Center: 46.477388, -122.295061 We have been fishing offshore still. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Blue Creek: . Both of those are stocked with large numbers of hatchery rainbows each year. Unlike the reservoirs in either direction, Riffe isnt typically managed as a trout fishery. Some fishermen believe they grow larger than other trout because the energy normally used for reproduction is instead used for eating. Trolling for these land locked coho and chinook isn't too different from trolling for Kokanee or rainbow trout. Not sure what fish to prepare force when fishing on Riffe Lake . However, largemouths do have the potential to grow a bit larger than smallmouths in the Northwest. New Podcast 2023: Float Tubes and Boats on Crowley Lake . Good news, the wind speed is forecasted to be at 5mph and considered in the optimal range for fishing as the ripples caused by the wind on the water's surface will help hide the line an lure on Riffe Lake Recommended gear for trolling a hoochie or wedding ring spinner about a foot behind an Arrow flasher, tip hooks with shrimp. Some anglers will keep releasing fish to try to include a Chinook or two in their bag limit. Make sure you're reppared for the correct fish by having the best lures and bait for the fish that are likely in Riffe Lake . Riffe is best known for its resident coho and smallmouth bass fishing. and susceptible to feeding meaning an opportunity for you to nab a catch. These particular fish come from famed Rufus Woods broodstock. I've found the most success with a worm and a piece of shoepeg corn cured pink. Its more like an hour and a half from Tacoma, taking Highway 7 south to Morton located north of mid-lake, and then Highway 12 to whichever end of Riffe you plan to fish. Get information about river flows and lake levels at MyTPU.org/LakeLevels. Website: Riffe Lake is a 23 mile long reservoir that holds a variety of species including rainbow, brown trout, landlocked coho, bass, bluegill,crappie, and perch. Learn More, 03/03/2023 The lake also has several camping areas available. More: Bass Fishing: Simple How-To Techniques and Tips. The famous Riffe Lake cocktail is a combination of a piece of corn, a worm, and a salad shrimp. In other words, for a year or two anyway, Riffe Lake has excellent rainbow trout fishing. With the wind so light less ripples in the water makes it more difficult to mask the line and lure on Riffe Lake Wind from the North, do not go forth. Crappie and Perch are hanging out in the canals for the winter. Riffe also has some largemouth bass, although reports from the reservoir suggest this is a smaller fishery than the smallmouths these days. Make sure to bring a variety of options to see what the fish want that day. View Fishing Details. Cloud Cover & Rain Updated Just Now Click here for the latest 7 day fishing weather forecast for Riffe Lake. Some anglers mistake coho for kokanee. Winds may gust up to 5mph. Blue Creek: . The launch at Mossyrock Park is usually a good bet year round. The channel catfish were recently stocked and will be entering the fishery this year. Recent Posts. Currently, most of the fish are being caught most on or near the surface. It's more of a wife tail but always fun to recollect. It's a good idea to call Tacoma Power or check their website for current water levels. This lake also provides good fishing for Yellow Perch, Bluegill Sunfish, Brown Bullhead , an Ohop Lake is currently open year-round. Learn More, 02/05/2023 I think because of the quality of all the sticks and floating logs in the lake ( as well as the wind) it does not appear to be really popular with the water maggots (aka Jet Skies) or ski boats. Rather than see them go to waste, Pryor says he went to work reaching out to various federal and state agencies, utilities and tribes to see if anybody could take the fish. Because this lake is so deep, downriggers are almost necessity here, although deep divers might make a good alternative. Find out if theres a raging torrent for torent or a calm mirror like surface using our daily updated stats for over 500,000 fishing locations. South blows bait in their mouth.. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Spri If you live in Mossyrock or Morton you're less than I only used Shoepeg corn with NTO Scent Spinner in white trout sized with Seahawk colored beads pulled behind an Arrowflash dodger. I am wondering weather I should purchase a glo style one or a non glo style one for fishing mainly kokanee, landlocked cohos, or tripiloid trout at Rife or Merwin? Deep. A few days later, WDFW announced the release of over 400,000 triploid trout into Riffe Lake. Mossyrock Park has lots of camping and day-use amenities in addition to the reservoirs best west-end boat launch. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Tacoma Power report that there are no kokanee salmon in Riffe, although some anglers swear that remnants of these land-locked sockeye still exist in the reservoir. Stocked rainbow trout also provide good fishing. Prices and optons are listed including non resident fishing licenses. This is a deep, cold lake, perfect for temperature sensitive salmon. February 8, 2023 riffe lake Fishing Report. Riffe Lake fishing is very good for those in kayaks and fishing from the bank. Only Hatchery Salmon and Steelhead may be retained. There are 3 boat launches, 2 of which are not accessible during low water conditions. The day-use area is open. After spawning and as the waters warm, smallmouth bass are likely to move into somewhat deeper water but will still be relatively high in the water column, probably in 10 to 20 feet or less in most cases, although bright mid-day sunlight may push them deeper. These triploids will be a blast to catch on light tackle! Two weeks ago, Washington state governor Jay Inslee announced the re-opening of state parks and hunting. Riffe Lake provides opportunities for bluegill, brown trout, coho salmon, black crappie, brown bullhead, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass and coastal cutthroat trout (resident) throughout the year. Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! If you come in the hot mid- to late summer, youll likely need to fish in water up to 100 feet deep, which means employing down-riggers or a ton of weight. Only saw a couple my whole week out there. If you are new to the lake a couple of tips. This is a deep, cold lake, perfect for temperature sensitive salmon. Bull trout 4.8 (8) Washington, United States 215 Logged catches. The Columbia River: Near Longview is open for hatchery Salmon and Steelhead. Taidnapam North boat launch is closed. I know folks at Barrier Dam Campground and local sporting goods stores are hurting. Nightcrawlers and any types of worms, cut-baits like fish or shrimp, chicken livers, prepared catfish doughs (stink baits), and many other baits will all do the job. The famous Riffe Lake cocktail is a combination of a piece of corn, a worm, and a salad shrimp. Surf Perch off the beach So please call me on my current phone number listed above. swear their catch improves when the moon is in a "New" or "Full" moon phase. We're building software in our members area to tell you. There are launch points at the SW and NE ends of the lakes. It is a popular water for smallmouth bass. I may have gotten lucky on that front but heads up if you want a lake where you are not an obstacle for their slalom course.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'northwestfishingreports_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-northwestfishingreports_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); I have a question about your lure you were using at Rife, but can't get any response back when I send a message to Northern Tribe Outdoors. 2023 Fishidy. Lots of anglers also troll with lures. Fishermen all over the state held their breath, and cheered as he announced re-opening recreational fishing on May 5, albeit with some restrictions still in place on coastal fisheries. The kokanee are averaging respectable sizes with very few dinks in the mix. Winds may gust up to 6mph. Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. While the salmon may not be as large as those caught in saltwater or in rivers, the limit is generous and they are a blast to catch. Thinking of heading out to Riffe Lake Near Mossyrock over the next few days. See our privacy policy. Riffe Lake is a massive Cowlitz River reservoir that anglers should get to know better if they like to catch lots of land-locked coho salmon and smallmouth bass. If that time won't work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. Worms and nightcrawlers also are effective bass baits, but note that if you are practicing catch and release fishing, bait-fishing is riskier because more fatal hookups occur. ps. Reports in 2021 so far are that the sterile rainbow trout have grown into nice keepers and some days are hard to keep off the hook if you are specifically targeting the coho. Bluegill prefer small natural baits but also hit artificial flies and small lures. There are two excellent Tacoma PublicUtilities parks with excellent boat ramps and also a concrete ramp at the end of Komos Drive.For recorded information on river flows, lake levels and boat launch usability, call the Tacoma Power Fishing and Recreation line at (888) 502-8690.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Available Fishing Guide: An somewhat popular lake, there has been many reports by anglers at Riffe Lake over the past few years. Riffe Lake (also known as aka Mossyrock Lake or Davisson Lake) is a large freshwater lake that's 23.5 mi long reservoir, 11,800 acre lake, 52 miles of shoreline, at an elevation of 774 ft. that is on the Cowlitz River in Washington. The moon in the night skies over Riffe Lake is in a Waning Gibbous phase. Speaking from experience, these salmon are expert bait stealers. It runs parallel to the vehicle bridge for Champion Haul Road. There are 3 boat launches, 2 of which are not accessible during low water conditions. Use your favorite Kokanee flasher and a pink or chartreuse wedding ring or spoon. The wind is an ever constant companion if you are a kayaker or have a very small boat so plan accordingly.If you have never been to this lake get out there. If youre specifically after rainbow trout in this area, keep Mayfield Lake just downstream and Scanewa Lake just upriver on your radar. Riffe also has modest fisheries for crappie and bluegill, although it runs pretty cold for fishing for these species to be exceptional. Due to the moon conditions night brightness levels are at 100%. Required fields are marked *. Only Hatchery Salmon and Steelhead may be retained. Horseshoe Lake: was stocked with some large Trout in December and has been stocked with surplus Steelhead. Denny. Fishing includes Channel catfish, Brown Bull head, Brown and Rainbow trout, Smallmouth and Largemouth bass, Sucker, Yellow perch, and Crappie. The water levels have dropped again and the boat launches are high and dry. Crappie and Perch are hanging out in the canals for the winter. Other Fishing Reports for Kelso Riffe Lake Stocked With Unexpected 405,000 Triploids From Cooke. Riffe Lake | Boat Rentals | Jet Skis | Water Tours Call or Text: 888.205.7119 Home About Us Wakeboarding Boats Ski Boats Lake Boat Rentals Power Boat Rentals Speed Boat Rentals Party Boat Rentals Motor Boat Rentals Utah Boat Rentals Utah Jet Ski Rental Arizona Boat Rentals California Boat Rentals Nevada Boat Rentals Colorado Boat Rentals The other potentially great fishery here is for smallmouth bass, which are available in good numbers and can reach trophy sizes in the 5-pound range or better, which is a very nice smallmouth in the Pacific Northwest. A lot of fun. For now, the rainbows are similar in size to the coho. There are a tremendous amount of options for bait. Other Fishing Reports for Kelso Horseshoe Lake Good Pryor says the fish were about 6 inches long when they were let loose in the upper Cowlitz River reservoir, and expects them to grow quickly. Fishingfool16. Riffe has become so reliable for this fishery that even some fishing guides fill up boats with customers who then fill up the boats with five-fish limits of these tasty fish. But here's the kicker, I flat lined a rod 150ft back using a 2 inch mag . Former bass fishing guide Roger Luce told us that Riffe Lake is one of his preferred fishing spots for big smallmouth bass in Washington, along with the Columbia River. Like other catfish, these fish are easily caught on bait whenever you locate them. Below is directions to the southwest site. However, a delay from the state Department of Ecology in permitting Cookes plan to raise rainbow/steelhead instead and the imminent shutdown of their hatchery due to the coronavirus crisis, meant the fish had to go or otherwise be destroyed, like two previous batches. Many trout die from the stress of reproduction, triploids may live longer and grow larger. Also, WDFW and sport anglers are reporting in that the triploids tend to be full of intestinal worms, which wont hurt you but should be cleaned out of the gut cavity thoroughly before cooking. All rights reserved. Some days the fish are at 40 feet, other days they are as deep as 90-100 feet. Most of my big fish were caught in 300 feet of water 30 feet on the rigger. If you are new to the lake a couple of tips. Others use yellow corn or a piece of shrimp. Anglers, usually after the land-locked coho but occasional catching other salmon or trout, dangle baits down into the water some 40 feet below. Riffe Lake WA Map - Fishing & Camping Areas Lake Video Riffe lake fishing June 24th. Of course these should only be used as indicators combined with your own past fishing experience fishing on the banks of Riffe Lake.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fishingproreport_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishingproreport_com-medrectangle-3-0'); It's common knowlege cloud cover is an angler's best friend. Catchable Rainbow Trout are planted in the spring. Mayfield Lake fishing is very good for Trout. 32" Rainbow Trout. South blows bait in their mouth.. depth (ft) To depth map Go back I fish .8-1.2 mph. Moon phases have a signifigant impact on fishing. Learn More, Get Special Offers Delivered Right to Your Inbox. Coho Salmon with a Fisherman Catcher - Pink Hoochie. Learn More, 02/05/2023 Cowlitz: Is open for Hatchery Steelhead, Sea run Cutthroat and Salmon. Bluegill can be caught year-round, but fishing is best in the warm months of Summer. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving. Its less so about the direction but the cause for the direction. How do we do it? Learn More, 02/05/2023 Make sure to bring a variety of options to see what the fish want that day. Outside of this triploid trout bonus, Riffe has not been on the trout-stocking plan, but there have been three species of trout caught in the reservoir anyway. 2021-2022 California Sport Fishing Regulations; Inyo National Forest Interactive Map; Camp Like a Pro; Mammoth Lakes Tourism 888-466-2666; CDFW 916-445-7600; Mono Country Tourism 800-845-7922; Inyo County 760-787-0292; LADWP 760-873-0256 Outside the Northwest fishing world, with meat processors having to shut down, farmers are having to make tough decisions about slaughtering their livestock. All Rights Reserved. Smallmouth bass are savage hunters that feed on crayfish, smaller fish and other prey that comes their way. Editor's Note - this article was first published in 2020. If so get you'll find all your weather information you'll need over the next seven days. How is the fishing in Riffe lake? We are constantly posting fishing reports, how-to tutorials, and detailed reviews of Washington's best fishing areas. Monofilament recovery and recycling program. Many fishermen agree that these fish are most active from May to August. Kress Lake: Trout was recently stocked with over 2,000 rainbow trout and also surplus Steelhead. Just west of the ramp is an Island and the deep water off of that island butts up agains a flat. Took us a couple of hrs to figure out that I really did need to use Kokanee gear and not my standard trout plugs or fast speed. Itll take some serious scrambling to reach water in many spots, especially in big middle of the lake. Despite being well over 20 miles long with tons of shoreline, bank access isnt as good as you might think. Winter Steelhead are now showing up in good numbers the u If you are targeting the browns, try using lures that imitate smaller fish, which are a favorite brown trout forage. County: Lewis #4.25.5. Try starting out by the dam and keep a close eye on your fishfinder. 215 Logged catches. Many fishermen argue over the best bait to use. Get out and explore fishing here! Because of this lake's size, changing water levels, and dangerous winds, this is not a beginner boater's lake.Trolling for Coho and ChinookBecause this lake is so deep, downriggers are almost necessity here, although deep divers might make a good alternative. 17 in. Kokanee aka: Land locked salmon with a wedding rings. Looking to head out over the next few days. Best technique use Arrow Flash dodgers and lake trolls with a wedding ring or a View fishing report . Learn More, 03/03/2023 You can check Tacoma Public Utilities access page for current access at Riffe and its other recreation areas. Winter is a difficult time to target this species. Recommended gear for trolling a hoochie or wedding ring spinner about a foot behind an Arrow flasher, tip hooks with shrimp. It's a good idea to check your bait if you haven't had a bite in some time, or if you lost a fish. Leftover hatchery chinook and coho salmon are stocked in this lake once quotas have been met for the nearby Cowlitz River. Find Medical Lake, WA recreational land for sale properties. Theres an old saying on wind direction which has many variations but here's the most popular which I'm sure you've heard: Wind from the West, fish bite the best. And the map shows spots near Pindall (AR), where fishermen caught Tiger trout. It can take some work to find the schools, but easy limits can be had in less than an hour once you've found them. The infamous Riffe Lake afternoon winds can be quite dangerous, whipping the smooth, blue morning waters into jagged white caps. Arrived at 1 pm left at 730 pm. Battle Ground Lake - WDFW planted an additional. Tie on a slip bobber and fish about 40 to 60 feet deep and you'll be on a salmon in no time. The infamous Riffe Lake afternoon winds can be quite dangerous, whipping the smooth, blue morning waters into jagged white caps. An unexpected 405,000 triploid rainbows were released into Riffe Lake earlier this month, fish that almost had to go to the landfill but down the line will make some Southwest Washington anglers happy instead. Good news, the wind speed is forecasted to be at 5mph and considered in the optimal range for fishing as the ripples caused by the wind on the water's surface will help hide the line an lure on Riffe Lake View photos, research land, search and filter more than 1 listings | Land and Farm Rooster tails, flatfish lures, and small pink hoochies are great options. This is a great opportunity to net yourself a huge trout in Riffe Lake! Anyone interested in fishing Riffe Lake or waters within the wider area around Centralia should consult with local resources before heading out . Its going to turn that fishery around especially next fall and next year, forecasts Larry Pryor of Northwest Fisheries Enhancement, who worked as a middle man to find a home for the trout. It is well worth the effort to learn the lake. Coastal cutthroat trout also are native to the Cowlitz and its tributaries and occasionally make their way into the reservoir, where they can be caught to nice size. Coho salmon are the most popular quarry at Riffe Lake, and this is one fishery that will draw fair numbers of anglers to the reservoir. Try playing around with herring and shrimp scents on your lures. This is a massive, 13 mile long lake, so finding the fish is the most time consuming part. The launch at Mossyrock Park is usually a good bet year round. Today we departed on Joe Beck and Mal Wagstaf's annual six day trip, which is our first post-boat work excursion! For one, Riffe runs cold and smallmouths are native to more northerly climates than largemouths. The lake also has several camping areas available. While anglers will eventually benefit from the permitting delay and downturn in commercial markets that left no buyers for the fish, Pryor hopes the stocking will result in an economic boon for area businesses. However, weve seen some reports of nice triploid rainbows caught from the bank in the upper part of the reservoir. Thank you. which means its less optimal fishing time. Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. Smallmouth bass are savage hunters that feed on crayfish, smaller fish and other prey that comes their way. Read the reports here and of we went. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An occasional Chinook will wind up in the catch, and might be a bit larger, but the coho are the bulk of salmon caught here. Rearing the East Coast fish was banned in Washington after company nets overloaded with mussels and marine plants tore loose in August 2017 and a quarter million farmed fish escaped. Or try our advanced Washington fishing lake finder - search for any species of fish, filter by stocked lakes only, lake amenities and more. Also, browns are night feeders so youll have a better chance during lower-light conditions. Others use yellow corn or a piece of shrimp. You still may end up catching more smallmouth than largemouth. In typical years trout were caught more incidentally than on purpose by anglers fishing for more numerous land-locked salmon, and at least some drop down from the Cowlitz and tributaries. Silver Lake: It's Crappie time in Silver Lake! Elevation: 774 ft. The Riptidefish.com mission is to offer you all the information and encouragement to get you excited about fishing around Seattle and Washington State. Also, by that time of the year, most of your catch will be the younger class of fish, which are roughly the size of just-legal stocked rainbows. Rip Some Lips Guide Service is a professional river guide service in Washington that provides fun and exciting river guide adventures. Usual trolling and bait-fishing techniques will catch trout when you can find them, but again the best approach is probably to come to Riffe for the coho and pick up an occasional trout. WDFW Fishing and Stocking ReportsWDFW Fishing RegulationsNational Weather Service forecasts, Riffe Lake Fishing: How to Catch Coho, Bass & More (2023), tips to catch more salmon in our simple how-to fishing guide, great fishery here is for smallmouth bass, Bass Fishing: Simple How-To Techniques and Tips, trolling and bait-fishing techniques will catch trout, best catfish fishing baits and techniques, Crappie like lures that imitate very small fish. Anglers dont always have the upper hand. Still fishing and trolling are both good options for boaters. Learn More, 03/03/2023 Caught on a 6 lb trout spinning road. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. W hile camping and fishing at Mossyrock Park with the Boy Scouts on Riffe Lake, I was fascinated by the exposed stumps along the shoreline. The fishing regulatory body for Washington is Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. For March: Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. Many fishermen argue over the best bait to use. Some days the fish are at 40 feet, other days they are as deep as 90-100 feet. There are no Kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) in this lake. Here is some background on Riffe Lake and its unique fishery, for those unfamiliar. Rainbow and cutthroat trout are also available. Triploids are created when trout eggs are exposed to a heat or pressure bath, causing a chromosome to split. Get a next-day email alert when this lake get stocked! It is a popular water for smallmouth bass. Riffe Lake is a very large freshwater lake located in Lewis County, Washington. And you can catch those just about anywhere. This is exciting news for anglers with cabin fever! Also where can I purchase them in an area near Longview, Wa. First time fishing Riffe Lake.