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A friend of mine and her son went to Riffe Lake today. It was the first time her son had ever been on a boat. We got thre at around 9:30 am and fished all day til 6:30pm. We had a blast although the fishing in general was slow. We started out at the Mossy Rock Dam and trolled about a mile from the dam Eastward on the far shore. There was very little action on the top by the silvers and I didn't get very good readings on fish anywhere. We wound up catching 1 keeper and releasing 2 small fish. The excitement in this part of the day (11:00am) was when we hooked something that we set the hook into and couldn't move the fish. I felt the head shake and it started bending my pole over hard. In the next minute, the hook gave way leaving us wondering what the heck it was. It was cool. The depth that was most favorable for hookups seemed to be 24 feet. The fish were suspended in about 65 feet of water. Around 2pm we decided to move after a long lull down at Mossyrock. The other fishermen weren't killing them either (3 and 4 fish) was what we saw of the boats leaving.

We went up lake toward the mouth of the Cowlitz (about 10 miles) to a section of the lake that had a large (oil Can) like buoy and fished open water around there for the next 3 hours. We fished Needlefish and small Rapala lures and wound up building a catch of 7 more keepers and 2 or 3 that we let go because they were small. They were all nice sized Silvers in the 12-15 inch range and 1 Cutthroat about 12 inches. All of the fish were very bright and healthy. I have attached some pics. My friend's son reeled them all in and did a great job while his mom and I performed like deckhands! It was a great time that I reflect back on as a kid myself! I hope he will grow to love fishing, respect the sport and understand as I do, how truly blessed we are to be able to go to a place like Riffe and enjoy the outdoors like I do. We saw at least 6 pair of Eagles and watched several get chased around by nesting Osprey protecting their eggs and young! Just amazing and beautiful! What a place!

snake7676

6/6/2010 8:13:00 PM

Right on! sounds like the kid had fun they all ways do when the bite is happening ! thanks for the report.

walrus

6/6/2010 8:20:00 PM

Kokanee salmon
Oncorhynchus nerka
Kokanee are the land-locked form of sockeye salmon. Because they never migrate out to the ocean to feed, kokanee are often much smaller than sockeye.
The silvers in Riffe lake are land lock coho....not sockeye....not Kokanee.

kenbarb

6/6/2010 9:34:00 PM

Good detailed report Steelhead 6438, from the sound of your report the youngster has a good example to follow, and he will probably remember it forever. I would sure like to make the long trip to Riffe, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and catch a few of those Kokanee, keep the reports coming. Ken

Steelhead6438

6/6/2010 10:35:00 PM

Hi Walrus. I am not an ichthyologist but I will definitely take your word for it. Thanks for clarifying. I've heard whether they are Silvers and/or Sockeye - if they are landlocked, they are called Kokanee. Thanks for letting me know.

Bob R

6/7/2010 5:23:00 AM

Not so, steelhead 6438, any good book on fish I.D. (Freshwater Fishes, Peterson Field Guide is one , the best I've seen for folks wishing to prop. identify what they,ve caught) will only call landlocked Sockeye Kokanee.. Lots of people call bottomfish (i.e.- Rockfish, greenling, etc.) "rock cod" which is a misnomer as there is no such creature. A more informative post will occur with accurate I.D,Thanks forthe post, maybe that "big pull" was a summer run steelhead or maybe a returning springer? Bob R

walrus

6/7/2010 1:53:00 PM

Its all good....lots of fish to catch and good to eat a few too....We all fish to have fun and perhaps a dinner or two. Sounds like you got both. Thanks for sharing your trip. We can agree you caught fish...lol.

TBone

6/7/2010 4:32:00 PM

Hey Steelhead6438 i know there are landlocked chinook also they dump springers and steelhead in there from the cowlitz barrier dam, i talked to Bill Herzog last friday at sportco and Dan who also works there caught about a 9 or 10 lb native steelhead C & R but on the light rods Bill said it took them on a ride, i seen the pic it was a nice one..Also you said you went down to the floating can, thats the same place i have been 20 feet offshore fishing about 16 feet down..

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