Popular Fishing Spots

How to Catch Kokanee

GEAR: When gearing up for kokanee fishing, just about any light-action rod will do the job. Line weights of 4 to 6-pound test are a good choice. Lures are generally small spoons or beaded wedding ring style spinners tied 18 inches to 36 inches below a swivel. Swivels are a must, as the action on these types of lures will twist your line. Removable split shot are useful when trying to locate fish because you can add or subtract weight without re-tying your line. Some anglers, however, go straight to a 1-once banana style sinker when they know the fish are deep.

TROLLING: Early in the season (May to June), kokanee can be found relatively close to the surface throughout most of the day. A flat-lining technique can be very productive during this period and quite fun because very little weight, if any, is required. For best results, tip your beaded spinner or small spoon with some type of bait – earthworms or maggots are proven choices. You can put more fish in the boat by using larger (size 4) hooks. Kokanee have soft mouths and smaller hooks tend to tear out.

As the season progresses and the water warms, kokanee tend to hold deeper. Early mornings and evenings in July and August still produce well on the surface, but mid-day fishing is best with some weight. Most successful kokanee fishermen will experiment with weights and depths to find fish. Fish finders and depth sounders can be quite useful in locating the depth where fish are holding.

STILL FISHING: Still fishing is a fun and relaxing way to catch a lot of kokanee. A hook, a swivel, a slip sinker and some bait (i.e. maggots) are all that is needed.Get away from the shore and fish directly below the boat. If you get a bite, remember how deep you were because there are probably a lot more where that one came from.

Check out the Kokanee Hot Spots Map!

Fishing Supplies

You can buy bait, tackle and other fishing supplies at these local stores:

• Alder Park Store, 50110 Mt. Hwy. E., Near the Alder Park Boat Launch
• Elbe Mall, 54011 Mt. Hwy., Elbe
• Elbe Grocery, 54209 Mt. Hwy., Elbe

Learn more about kokanee fishing in our kokanee brochure. For great fishing products, visit Mack’s Lure of Leavenworth, Washington.

Largemouth bass, along with rainbow and cutthroat trout can be caught at the lake's west end using various gear. In spring months, rainbow trout have been caught from shore between Elbe and Rocky Point. Or, you can launch your boat on the lake and fish to your heart's content.

Alder Lake No Wake Area

Mayfield and Riffe Lakes and Swofford Pond

Tacoma Power funds the stocking of fish in Mayfield and Riffe lakes and Swofford Pond to improve overall sport fishing.

Coho salmon, rainbow trout and cuttroat trout can be found in Riffe Lake. Here they live with landlocked coho and chinook salmon, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout, as well as Crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, brown bullhead and bluegill.

Most of the same species can be found in Mayfield Lake with one addition. The tiger muskie was planted in 1988 to see how well it would survive as a sport fish and biological control for the undesirable pike minnow population.

The 240-acre Swofford Pond is stocked with rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, plus naturally occurring largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill.

Mayfield Lake Park

If fishing is your pleasure, Mayfield Lake provides a premiere recreation spot. Anglers especially appreciate the many types of fish found here. Chinook, coho, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass are popular catches.

Fishing is open year-round at Mayfield Lake. Mayfield is stocked with rainbow trout and coho salmon.

How to Get There

From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68).  Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 17 miles. Turn left on Beach Road and drive a quarter of a mile to the park entrance. 

An alternate route from Tacoma is to take Highway 7 south to the town of Morton. At Morton, turn right onto Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Beach Road, approximately 14 miles. Turn right and continue on Beach Road to the park entrance.

Swofford Pond

The 240-acre Swofford Pond is stocked with rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. The pond also has largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill. Swofford Pond is off-limits to gasoline powered motors.

How to Get There

To get there from Mossyrock Park, drive west toward the town of Mossyrock for about one-half mile. Turn left at Swofford Road at the Y, and travel another 1.5 miles in a southeasterly direction. Stay to the left at the second Y. Parking is available in the county parking lot about 300 yards beyond the entrance to the boat launch.

Riffe Lake

 Many Riffe Lake anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, or coho salmon. Riffe Lake is also a perfect place to enjoy boating and water skiing, particularly during summer months when the lake is at its higher elevation.

Tacoma Power provides public boat launches at the southwest and east ends of Riffe Lake. The Mossyrock Park boat launch is on the southwest shore near the dam at the west end of the lake. Year-round access is usually available here even when the lake is at its low wintertime elevation. The Kosmos boat launch is on the northeast end of the lake. At the southeast end, but further south, is the Taidnapam Park boat launch. The Kosmos and Taidnapam Park boat launches are open in the summer months when the reservoir is at its higher elevation.

On the north shore next to Mossyrock Dam by Highway 12 is a newly improved trail that provides fishing access at most reservoir levels. A large parking area is provided. Interpretive signs describing local history are also on display at this location.

Riffe Lake is lowered in the fall to provide space to retain high water from storms and melting snow that could cause or aggravate downstream flooding. In addition, the lake is gradually lowered throughout the summer to enhance stream flows for the benefit of salmon migration and habitat in the lower river.  To find out the current lake elevation, call the Fishing and Recreation Line toll free at 1-888-502-8690.

Fishing is open year-round. Riffe is stocked with coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. Bass are available for spiny ray enthusiasts.

How to Get There

Mossyrock Park is about 90 miles south of Tacoma in Lewis County, near the town of Mossyrock. From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68). Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 21 miles. Turn right on Williams Street (flashing yellow light). Continue several blocks on Williams Street to a "T" intersection in the town of Mossyrock. Turn left onto State Street. Outside of town, State Street becomes Mossyrock Road East, and then Ajlune Road. Ajlune Road leads into the park.

Mayfield Lake, Riffe Lake, and Swofford Pond

Taidnapam Park

If you like to fish, you'll want to visit Taidnapam Park's pedestrian fishing bridge across the Cowlitz River where Riffe Lake begins. The bridge is accessible to people with disabilities. It's a popular fishing spot for anglers of all ages. Next to the bridge is a special fish-cleaning station and restrooms.

Fishing is open year-round. Riffe Lake is stocked with coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. Bass are available for spiny ray enthusiasts.

Taidnapam Park's boat ramp is open during summer when Riffe Lake is at its higher level. A fish-cleaning station and restrooms are also at the boat launch.

How to Get There

Taidnapam Park is about 110 miles south of Tacoma in Lewis County, near the town of Morton. From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68). Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 37 miles (5 miles past Morton). Turn right on Kosmos Road, then left onto an improved gravel road (#100 Champion Haul Road).

Follow the improved gravel road approximately 4 miles to the park entrance. Turn right in to the park. An alternate route from Tacoma is to take Highway 7 south to the town of Morton. At Morton turn left on to Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Kosmos Road; turn right and continue as above. For your safety and that of others, please obey all posted speed limits, particularly on the gravel road.

Cowlitz River at Blue Creek and Barrier Dam

The Cowlitz River is renowned as one of the finest steelhead rivers in Washington State. It also is popular for coho and other salmon fishing. See the Cowlitz Fish Report for current fishing information.

Call our toll free Fishing and Recreation Line number, 1-888-502-8690 for recorded information on river flows, lake levels and usability of boat ramps on the lakes.

Tacoma Power provides two popular fishing spots along the Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam:

• Barrier Dam boat launch near the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery
• Blue Creek boat launch near the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery

Both boat launches have vault toilets and large parking areas.

Tacoma Power owns and maintains these sites. The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife helped Tacoma Power develop these popular recreation sites.

How to Get There

To get to Barrier Dam boat launch from Interstate 5, take State Highway 12 east to the community of Silver Creek. Turn right (south) on to Gershick Road. At the end of the road turn left on to Spencer Road and follow the road as it bends to the right. Drive straight past the salmon hatchery to the Barrier Dam boat launch and fishing area.

To get to the Blue Creek boat launch from Interstate 5, take State Highway 12 east to the community of Ethel. Turn right (south) on to Tucker Road. Tucker Road bends to the right where it meets Classe Road at a Y. Go straight on to Classe Road. At the end of the road turn left on to Spencer Road. Watch for the signs directing you to turn right to go to the trout hatchery and to the Blue Creek boat launch.