Riffe Lake Fishing Report | August 25, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
One rainbow at 50 feet on the downrigger; marks at 100 to 150 feet, dropped to 95 feet where the fish turned on
Presentation
Downrigger troll a dodger and spinner over deep water near the dam. Added scent and bait to the usual catch and release presentation.
Lures and baits
Brad's Moon Jelly Herringbone dodger
Mack's Kokanee Pro spinner
Tipped with pink Gulp Maggots and Pautzke's Fire Gel in tuna
Water level
Water level is low but fine for launching a kayak
Advice for this week
When the fish show deep on the graph, do not be afraid to drop down to them, even to 95 feet. Once Pete matched the depth, the remaining fish came fast.
Next week
With tons of water to explore and fish holding deep near the dam, Riffe Lake is worth the trip for Coho and rainbows. The deep pattern should hold while levels stay low.
Notable catch
Six fish for the morning: five Coho and one rainbow.
Riffe Lake gave up five coho and one rainbow on a kayak trip in late August 2025. The water is low but great for kayak launching. Fish held deep, 100 to 150 feet, with the best hookups at 95 feet on the downrigger. Fish the dam area near Mossyrock Park over 200 to 300 feet of water. Pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Fire Gel added scent.
What is biting at Riffe Lake right now?
Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Pete Fisher caught five coho and one rainbow on a kayak trip on August 25, 2025. He normally targets coho here but the lake also holds big rainbows. The first rainbow came at 50 feet, then the action turned on once he dropped deeper to the fish.
What depth are the fish holding at Riffe Lake?
Fish were holding deep, 100 to 150 feet, over water 200 to 300 feet deep. Pete caught one rainbow at 50 feet, then dropped to 95 feet on the downrigger and hooked five more fish within an hour. That 95 foot depth was the key once he matched the marks on his sonar.
What lures are working at Riffe Lake?
Pete ran a Brad’s Moon Jelly Herringbone Dodger with a Mack’s Kokanee Pro spinner, then added pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Pautzke’s Fire Gel. Those brands are not products we carry, so match the moon jelly dodger and pink spinner presentation from your own kokanee and trout box.
Where should I fish on Riffe Lake?
Fish the dam area, just outside Mossyrock Park, over water 200 to 300 feet deep. Pete’s fish came in and around the dam and on the eastern shore. The water level is low but the Mossyrock Park boat launch is perfect for launching a kayak on this big 13 mile long lake.
What are the conditions at Riffe Lake?
The lake is low but great for kayak launching. It is a big body of water, 13 miles long and about a mile wide at the widest, an impoundment of the Cowlitz River. Fish were deep at 100 to 150 feet. Longer-term outlook and water temperature were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Riffe Lake August 25, 2025 FAQ
Fish were holding 100 to 150 feet, with the best hookups at 95 feet on the downrigger.
Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Pete caught five coho and one rainbow on his kayak trip.
The dam area outside Mossyrock Park and the eastern shore, over water 200 to 300 feet deep.
Yes. The water is low but the Mossyrock Park boat launch is perfect for launching a kayak.
Pete used pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Fire Gel. Those are not brands we carry, so match locally.
It is 13 miles long and about a mile wide at its widest, an impoundment of the Cowlitz River.
