RFI - Riffe Lake, WA

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
2,792
Reaction score
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Location
North East Oregon
C Dory Year
2005
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Constant Craving
Have any of you Washingtonians fished Riffe Lake? I heard a rumor that the kokanee were fat and sassy, and in serious need of being in my smoker or fry pan.

Oh - Terrible accident at Lake Merwin today. Ten kokanee died.

Thanks in advance!
 
I took the Grand kids fishing there a couple of weeks ago and they caught 10 nice fish. I am on the way up there in about and hour for another try. It has always produced nice fish for us.
 
Here is what I know.
It is really big (50 + miles long ?). It gets really windy in the afternoon. There is a nice camping area on the southwest shore and another, I believe, on the northeast shore near Randle. I think the fish are landlocked silvers or chinook, not kokes.

I've always wanted to take a few days and explore it but is anchoring out there even allowed? I think Tacoma Power and Light has the concession and overnighting is banned at Merwin, Swift, and Yale (others run by Pacific Power and Light) so probably here too. They might impound any tow-vehicle/trailer left overnight.
 
Mac, how did the fishing turn out?

Pete, I googled the lake, and it appears to have both kokanee and landlocked chinook. Hmmmm, I feel the need for a road trip.
 
Cathy and I've spent many nights anchored up in one of the coves on the north side of the lake.
We always launch at the Tacoma power camp ground, pay their 5 dollar launch fee and tell them we will be out on the lake for the weekend. Never any problem from the staff.
We troll mylar pop gear with a wedding ring behind, with a small piece of shrimp on the hook. It keeps the grand kids and us amused for hours catching fish and watching eagles. On weekends we run up to the east end of the lake to watch the hang gliders float around the sky.
What a great lake to spend time on!
 
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