fishing conditions are optimal. It's a good idea to call Tacoma Power or check their website for current water levels. 749 ft) Learn about changes to Riffe Lake levels. If youre specifically after rainbow trout in this area, keep Mayfield Lake just downstream and Scanewa Lake just upriver on your radar. Since these fish were just stocked, it's likely they will be hanging out in shallower depths than normal. Since these fish were just stocked, it's likely they will be hanging out in shallower depths than normal. 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. Water visibility is 5 feet and water temperature is 41.9 F. River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility. 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. For shore bound anglers, there is access on both sides of the dam as well as at the fishing bridge near Taidnapam Park. 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 Riffe Lake WA Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots Riffe Lake Lewis - Washington 5 catches 196 followers 20 spots Riffe Lake, historically known as Mossyrock Lake then as Davisson Lake, is a reservoir formed by Mossyrock Dam. Winds may gust up to 2mph. Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. Riffe Lake WA Map - Fishing & Camping Areas Lake Video Riffe lake fishing June 24th. Riffe Lake - 687.96 feet of elevation (maximum of approx. Most of my big fish were caught in 300 feet of water 30 feet on the rigger. Arrived at 1 pm left at 730 pm. Last week, Tacoma Power employees rec Honestly, if youre looking for crappie, bluegill, largemouth and even channel catfish (as well as stocked trout in the spring), consider neighboring Swofford Pond. The lake supports naturally reproducing populations of black crappie, yellow perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, brown bullhead catfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, and Silver Lake is currently open from the fourth Saturday in April through October 31st and offers good harvest opportunity for stocked rainbow trout. Smallmouth bass love rocky and hard-bottom structure but will use all types of structure. which means its less optimal fishing time. If so get you'll find all your weather information you'll need over the next seven days. The Fish Report - March 1st 2023. Normal lake elevation varies from 600 feet, minimum operating level, to 770 feet, normal operating pool, with crest of the spillway at 728 feet and top of tainter gates at 778.5 feet . The fishing regulatory body for Washington is Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This is a great opportunity to net yourself a huge trout in Riffe Lake! During winter, the bite is slower, but anglers can have great success fishing through the ice when conditions are safe. Riffe Lake fishing is very good for those in kayaks and fishing from the bank. 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. Winter is the most difficult season in which to catch Bluegill, but persistent anglers can find them in schools of like-sized fish offshore. 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. Kokanee Kress Lake: Trout was recently stocked with over 2,000 rainbow trout and also surplus Steelhead. And, maybe more importantly, this time of year the bulk of your catch will be second-year coho, which tend to be at least 12 inches and often better. South blows bait in their mouth.. Determine which day is best for you the bag your best catch on Riffe Lake. Buoy 10 to Tongue point and the Ocean area 1 Crabbing off the jetty and in the lower Columbia is good! River flow below Mayfield Dam is 5,100 cubic feet per second on Monday, February 27, 2023. Once known as Mossyrock Lake, and even as Davisson Lake, it was eventually named for the community of Riffe inundated by Mossyrock Dam in the late 1960s. If you show up at the right time of the year with a boat capable of plying the big lake and play this right, you have a good shot at catching good numbers of freshwater salmon. Still fishing and trolling are both good options for boaters. (Try going deeper for the coho, but youre still likely to get a mixed bag.). Crappie jigs look like shaky minnows and are the most common lure deployed, but very small crankbaits, spinners and other lures also catch them. And right now, Riffe Lake also is at least temporarily an excellent trout fishery, now that the survivors among about 400,000 triploid rainbow trout stocked in 2020 are plenty big enough to keep and in many cases are snatching coho lures before the salmon. It's more of a wife tail but always fun to recollect. With that level of cloud coverage in the sky there is a 0% probability of rain. It is a popular water for smallmouth bass. Required fields are marked *. Others use yellow corn or a piece of shrimp. Monofilament recovery and recycling program. All rights reserved. Crappie and Perch are hanging out in the canals for the winter. Riffe Lake is currently under a "Waning Gibbous" phase Its less so about the direction but the cause for the direction. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Crappie like lures that imitate very small fish. They looked like alien creatures that had crawled out of the water. Fishing in Washington doesnt reopen until May 5, and boat launches and parks on Riffe are also shut down for the time being. Trolling catches a lot of land-locked salmon at Riffe. In my week camping there I caught fish every time I went out and they were good quality fish. Get out and explore fishing here! Itll take some serious scrambling to reach water in many spots, especially in big middle of the lake. Trolling for these land locked coho and chinook isn't too different from trolling for Kokanee or rainbow trout. The state record rainbow trout was a 30 pounder out of Rufus Woods Reservoir. Riffe Lake Stocked With Unexpected 405,000 Triploids From Cooke. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. Fishing is best for Coastal Cutthroat in the spring and fall. This station managed by the Western Washington Field Office (Tacoma). If you are targeting the browns, try using lures that imitate smaller fish, which are a favorite brown trout forage. 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. Blue Creek: . Merwin has been fishing very good! I fish .8-1.2 mph. The Columbia River: Near Longview is open for hatchery Salmon and Steelhead. Triploids are created when trout eggs are exposed to a heat or pressure bath, causing a chromosome to split. 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. 16" Coho ended up in the boat. They also are great fighters for their size, prone to making strong runs and sometimes spectacular leaps. At an elevation of 774 ft. and 11325.9 acres, it's home to several species of fish, including bluegill, brown trout, coho salmon, black crappie, brown bullhead, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass and coastal cutthroat trout (resident). 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. This is a very special fishery, and one of my favorites. We didnt want to see the fish destroyed or end up used for crab bait, Kinne said. 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. Today we departed on Joe Beck and Mal Wagstaf's annual six day trip, which is our first post-boat work excursion! If none of these work, sometimes cured coon shrimp or even a small piece of herring is the ticket.Catching TriploidsIf you're looking to catch yourself some of the 400,000 triploids freshly stocked in the lake, typical rainbow trout methods will apply, but be prepared to catch a 6+ pound football! There are no Kokanee in Riffe Lake. Bullhead catfish also are available in good numbers and decent sizes at Riffe, and actually taste better than you might think from these cool waters. While you can catch a variety of species at Riffe Lake, such as bass, crappie, and bullhead, most anglers visit for the opportunity to fill their coolers with landlocked salmon. I've found the most success with a worm and a piece of shoepeg corn cured pink. Rooster tails, flatfish lures, and small pink hoochies are great options. Bull trout The lake also supports naturally reproducing populat Lawrence Lake is open to angling year-round. This restriction does not apply if you only use lures, and no scent. Remember to keep 6 feet away from other fishermen, and fill that cooler! A few days later, WDFW announced the release of over 400,000 triploid trout into Riffe Lake. Only saw a couple my whole week out there. The go-to baits are nightcrawler (or a piece), corn and shrimp, or combinations of two of the three, according to Lip Rippers Fishing Adventures. Try starting out by the dam and keep a close eye on your fishfinder. It's more of a wife tail but always fun to recollect. The level of that lake had been lowered by 30 feet amidst earthquake concerns at Mossyrock Dam and revealed a glimpse of what was once beneath the waters. Acreage: 11325.90 ac. 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. You chances of bagging a few has increased. Riffe Lake used to be kept at near capacity level between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but updated outflow requirements intended to benefit federally-protected fish species have gradually forced. For March: 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. All Rights Reserved. These phases cause bigger tides making fish more active Here's your fishing report for today the 6th of February for Riffe Lake. ps. View Fishing Details. Use the same types of baits for still fishing. Mossyrock Park, near the west end on the south side of the dam, has camping facilities that can be reserved by calling (360) 983-3900. Try playing around with herring and shrimp scents on your lures. Because of this lake's size, changing water levels, and dangerous winds, this is not a beginner boater's lake. Lots of anglers also troll with lures. If you are specifically trying to find largemouth bass at Riffe, wed suggest trying out some of the shallower cove areas where the water is a little warmer. Because this lake is so deep, downriggers are almost necessity here, although deep divers might make a good alternative. This should have a positive effect on the fishery around there, he says. 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. The infamous Riffe Lake afternoon winds can be quite dangerous, whipping the smooth, blue morning waters into jagged white caps. Open in Google Maps. Coordinates: 46.4968, -122.332. This is a massive, 13 mile long lake, so finding the fish is the most time consuming part. If you are new to the lake a couple of tips. . Mossyrock Park also has shoreline access but its not as popular for catching salmon from the shore right there as it is for boaters heading out onto the lake. We have been fishing offshore still. Silver Lake is an excellent fishery for Largemouth Bass. Landlocked salmon rules apply. Looking to find out if other fishing enthusiasts are having luck on Riffe Lake . Available Fishing Guide: Fishing for Bass a Gear for Crappie The best coho fishing here tends to be from mid-spring to early summer, and for good reason. The browns of any size are not here in volume, but theyll occasional hit a trolled lure, some bait, or even a bass crankbait. Every great once in a while a really big brown trout is taken here (anglers report 10-plus pounders), and there also are scattered numbers of rainbow and cutthroat trout. If you use bait, each catch will be counted towards your limit even if released. Soft plastics, crainbaits, spinners, and other lures will catch smallmouth bass. So please call me on my current phone number listed above. The fish can be found there. 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. The Riptidefish.com mission is to offer you all the information and encouragement to get you excited about fishing around Seattle and Washington State. Learn More, 03/03/2023 During the day the maximum temperature will be 40F with a min temperature of 26F around Riffe Lake . Get a next-day email alert when this lake get stocked! Join our memebers araea for free and get additonal informaiton about Riffe Lake including current water conditions, fishing activity and special wholesale offers . If the winds pick up enough to make controlling your boat difficult, try trolling with the wind. This is a deep, cold lake, perfect for temperature sensitive salmon. 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. Recommended gear for trolling a hoochie or wedding ring spinner about a foot behind an Arrow flasher, tip hooks with shrimp. Kosmos boat launch and parking lot are closed. Chinook salmon As the water levels drop toward late summer and into fall, the east end ramps at Kosmos and Taidnapam tend to become inaccessible. Prices and optons are listed including non resident fishing licenses. It is a popular water for smallmouth bass. We're building software in our members area to tell you. October 18, 2022September 15, 2022by Brent Pollock Riffe provides good fishing for landlocked coho and Chinook salmon, plus an occasional large brown trout. swear their catch improves when the moon is in a "New" or "Full" moon phase. With fishing opening again on May 5th, and with 400,000 freshly stocked triploid trout, this is the perfect time to try fishing Riffe Lake. Riffe Lake fishing is very good, lots of silvers and a few trout to be caught. The Columbia River: Near Longview is open for hatchery Salmon and Steelhead. By 2022, we would expect fewer but larger trout here. If the winds pick up enough to make controlling your boat difficult, try trolling with the wind. Below is directions to the southwest site. Once you've keyed onto the fish, try trolling in a circle, always changing up speed and depth to find the largest school. Overall, boaters have a clear advantage in a huge water like Riffe Lake, with a good ramp at Mossyrock Park on the southwest end and more launches around Taidnapam Park and Kosmos on the east end. With the wind forecasted at 1mph hardly a puff out there makes for a calm mirror like surface. I'm sure you've heard of the old sying: Wind from the West, fish bite the best. #4.25.5. Questions? Its coming soon. Learn More, 02/05/2023 The channel catfish were recently stocked and will be entering the fishery this year. Its less so about the direction but the cause for the direction. Remember, regulations are there to protect fish species and enable fishing for generations to come. If none of these work, sometimes cured coon shrimp or even a small piece of herring is the ticket. They belonged to Cooke Aquaculture, which was growing them at a hatchery near Chehalis as a replacement for Atlantic salmon. 10 miles from Riffe Lake. Riffe Lake is a 13 mile long reservoir formed by Mossyrock Dam. If you're looking for a quality salmon and steelhead fishing guide, you have found one of the best. Once you've keyed onto the fish, try trolling in a circle, always changing up speed and depth to find the largest school. The infamous Riffe Lake afternoon winds can be quite dangerous, whipping the smooth, blue morning waters into jagged white caps. 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. Wind from the North, do not go forth. Wind from the East, fish bite the least. Some anglers mistake coho for kokanee. It's a good idea to call Tacoma Power or check their website for current water levels. Landlocked salmon rules apply. Triploids are sterile and put their energy into growing instead of spawning. Yale Reservoir and Lake Merwin. Wind from the An effective and common approach here is similar to the techniques for trolling for trout or kokanee elsewhere. Toutle all Forks: Are open for Steelhead, Trout and Salmon. Buy Lowrance HDS Live Finder - Save Up To $800 on System Components. Riffe Lake Campground is also close to other fishing. 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. Mossyrock Park has lots of camping and day-use amenities in addition to the reservoirs best west-end boat launch. Wind from the North, do not go forth. There are a multitude of recreational opportunities are nearby. Anyone interested in fishing Riffe Lake or waters within the wider area around Centralia should consult with local resources before heading out . Wind from the Wind from the During the spring spawning period, smallmouths often can be found in very shallow waters and also will move into some cove areas, like the little lake fingers where small tributaries come into the reservoir. Look for the ledges and fish the edges of those. There is no need to wait for fall salmon runs if you're craving some smoked salmon! Bank access is available on both sides near the dam and at the Taidnapam Park "fishing bridge" near the upper end of the lake. This is a fun experience, even just to watch. Riffe Lake is a 13 mile long reservoir formed by Mossyrock Dam. We are seeing schools of Bluefin Tuna of various sizes. Catch is lowest in the late-winter while adults are spawning in tributary streams. Cloud Cover & Rain Updated Just Now You still may end up catching more smallmouth than largemouth. Riffe Lake provides good shoreline access and a number of boat launches. Riffe Lake has 52 miles of shoreline and 11,830 acres to enjoy all your favorite water activities which can include; wakeboarding, water skiing, tubing, kneeboarding, wakesurfing, and wake skating. Also what size I should use to catch steelhead from the beach on the Cowlitz in the spring time and if a glo or non glo would be best? Total catch for the day for all of us, minus the few that got away! Kokanee aka: Land locked salmon with a wedding rings. Most fish are being taken 150 feet back on the. Learn More, 02/05/2023 Riffe Lake is a 13 mile long reservoir formed by Mossyrock Dam. It's a good idea to call Tacoma Power or check their website for current water levels. Riffe is best known for its resident coho and smallmouth bass fishing. On the hook, especially on light tackle, smallmouth are strong fighters for their size. Rainbow and cutthroat trout are also available. 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. Boat launches at the east end (Kosmos and Taidnapam Park) are not usable during low-water periods. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving. 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. Read up on the best catfish fishing baits and techniques. Fishing reports and forecasts for ~10,000 streams and lakes and rivers across North America and the United Kingdom. Also where can I purchase them in an area near Longview, Wa. If that time won't work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. We're giving away a $25 VISA Gift Card each week to one lucky angler. Caution must be used when fishing from a boat here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Use your favorite Kokanee flasher and a pink or chartreuse wedding ring or spoon. How is the fishing in Riffe lake? He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. It's more of a wife tail but always fun to recollect. Rooster tails, flatfish lures, and small pink hoochies are great options. 10.12 acres $19,700 Terrace Heights, WA, 98901, Yakima County This is a Pre-Listing 10.12 Acres in Yakima, Washington Message For Full Property Detail Report The town of Yakima is rapidly expandingand this 10.12 acre lot is right in the path of progress, this is a phenomenal long term investment. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Copyright 2023Sportsman's Warehouse. A few days later, WDFW announced the release of over 400,000 triploid trout into Riffe Lake. Caught on a 6 lb trout spinning road. Those fish spawn upstream, and then their young migrate downstream. The lake stretches more than 13 miles along US-12 east of Mossyrock and has a year-round open fish Trolling 1.25mph, using power bait. Good news, the wind speed is currently at 13 mph is 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. At an elevation of 774 ft. and 11325.9 acres, it's home to several species of fish, including bluegill, brown trout, coho salmon, black crappie, brown bullhead, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass and coastal cutthroat trout (resident). Like other catfish, these fish are easily caught on bait whenever you locate them. There are no Kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) in this lake. Many fishermen agree that these fish are most active from May to August. Stocked rainbow trout also provide good fishing. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Despite being well over 20 miles long with tons of shoreline, bank access isnt as good as you might think. The North Fork Lewis: Steelhead fishing has been good and should continue to get better as we get into February and March. 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. There are no Kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) in this lake. During the day the maximum temperature will be 42F with a min temperature of 21F around Riffe Lake . The average temperature will be 34F during the day. My fishfinder has measured spots as deep as 300 feet! Due to Mossyrock Dams super deep outlet, theres little risk the fish will pass downstream, Kinne also indicated. Should be good it's the end of the winter season. Thank you. 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 lake also has several camping areas available. Hannah Pennebaker graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Environmental Studies. In the winter when water conditions are good some Also, browns are night feeders so youll have a better chance during lower-light conditions. Currently, most of the fish are being caught most on or near the surface. Riffe Lake, historically known as Mossyrock Lake then as Davisson Lake, is a reservoir formed by Mossyrock Dam. There are 3 boat launches, 2 of which are not accessible during low water conditions. Learn More, 03/03/2023 How do we do it? These triploids will be a blast to catch on light tackle! However, its so big, once there anglers can spread out. Call the Tacoma Power toll-free fishing hotline at (888) 502-8690 to check reservoir levels. Speaking from experience, these salmon are expert bait stealers.Bank Fishing for Coho and ChinookThe most popular shore fishing here is at the deep waters on either side of Mossyrock Dam or the fishing bridge at Taidnapam Park. What is the goal? 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. Leftover hatchery chinook and coho salmon are stocked in this lake once quotas have been met for the nearby Cowlitz River. Kokanee is also a popular species to fish for at Riffe Lake. Wind from the East, fish bite the least. For now, the rainbows are similar in size to the coho. In other words, for a year or two anyway, Riffe Lake has excellent rainbow trout fishing. from a south easterly direction which means fishing is poor. This means if you're planning of fishing at night then 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. 17 in. Mayfield Lake fishing is very good for Trout. 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. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. Some swear by cured shoepeg corn. Anglers dont always have the upper hand. 4.8 (8) Washington, United States 215 Logged catches. Riffe also has modest fisheries for crappie and bluegill, although it runs pretty cold for fishing for these species to be exceptional. - Available by the dam and at theTaidnapam Park fishing bridge. But Riffe typically does have some rainbows that likely drop in from the Cowlitz and possibly a few from stockers put into Rainey Creek at the northeast end of the reservoir. Many fishermen argue over the best bait to use. Hatchery winte Unfortunately, recent reports suggest that the sheer numbers and voracious appetites of the triploid trout might be reducing forage and stunting normal growth rates for the coho, which anglers say seem to be shorter and skinnier than usual for this point in the season.