River fishing for trout?

[Smossy]

This next week or so me and my lady will be staying in a cabin up on the other side of Mt Rainier for our anniversary.
It sits right on the Cowlitz river, Id like to at-least attempt to do a little fishing while out there..
I imagine trout would be just about all there is? I'm not sure, Not very knowledgeable on rivers besides chasing salmon and there wont be any of those there I'm sure.

So my question to everyone, What is some good gear/tackle for fishing for trout out on the fast moving rivers?
As far as line weight, lures, jigs, spinners, cork's? What works and what doesn't. I've read that if you scare the fish, they forget about eating for awhile. So I don't want to do that.
I wont be fly fishing unless you can put a fly on a spinning reel setup. But that's why I'm curious because I know that most people fly fish for trout on the rivers.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

[rtspring]

Rooster Tail,  Vibrax.  In silver or brass color!!   Small as you can find them! Cast up stream, let the lure flow down stream, then slowly retrieve. Trout usually hit on the retrieve!  If your not catching fish , swap to other colors.

[Smossy]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

[duckmen1]

Yup have to wait unfortunately for a lot of waters. Getting excited for some of my trout waters though.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

Your gonna be busy with Humpies anyway. 

[Fishaholic]

get small pink corkies and run a 24 inch leader with a worm. for weight get split shot cast up stream and drift in down. works great every were I used it  at.



I cant wait til  the hump opens up for trout. Its going to be a slaughter!!!

[Smossy]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

Your gonna be busy with Humpies anyway. 

Not until late august, and that's in the sound. I don't have a cool boat like lots of you guys

[wildmanoutdoors]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

Your gonna be busy with Humpies anyway. 

Not until late august, and that's in the sound. I don't have a cool boat like lots of you guys

Lol Cmon, aniversary, cabin in the woods...no boat needed...nevermind...

[WSU]

get small pink corkies and run a 24 inch leader with a worm. for weight get split shot cast up stream and drift in down. works great every were I used it  at.



I cant wait til  the hump opens up for trout. Its going to be a slaughter!!!

Do you catch trout or just smolts?

[Smossy]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

Your gonna be busy with Humpies anyway. 

Not until late august, and that's in the sound. I don't have a cool boat like lots of you guys

Lol Cmon, aniversary, cabin in the woods...no boat needed...nevermind...

Oh. lmao. Sorry you can just call me slow... Haha I get it. Bow chika wow wow.

[Becky]

Rivers open June 1/ Better check on the upper Cow.

Crap
Here I was assuming it was like lakes and trout fishings open year round 

Your gonna be busy with Humpies anyway. 

Not until late august, and that's in the sound. I don't have a cool boat like lots of you guys

Lol Cmon, aniversary, cabin in the woods...no boat needed...nevermind...

LOL I got it, even if he didnt....


Cowlitz is open for chinook and stealies in certain areas that I can't really decipher, and I don't think it's close to where we're gunna be staying at anyways/don't know if they're even running up that way this time of year. Riffe lake is open year round, a bit over an hour drive though, probably no fishinggggg time.

[WSU]

Where is the cabin?  Someone can probably give you an idea of where to go.

[wildmanoutdoors]

From Mayfield Dam down river its wide open for fishing. Since no fish passage was built when the dam was installed salmon and steelies lurk no more. Its purely a hatchery fish factory.
Some Steelies and Silvers get trucked up to the Tieton and such, but Id just look to enjoying yourselves on a fine get way.

Hint, Morels will be in full bloom! Just over the pass.

[Becky]

Where is the cabin?  Someone can probably give you an idea of where to go.

1/2 mile from main town of Packwood it says 

[Smossy]

From Mayfield Dam down river its wide open for fishing. Since no fish passage was built when the dam was installed salmon and steelies lurk no more. Its purely a hatchery fish factory.
Some Steelies and Silvers get trucked up to the Tieton and such, but Id just look to enjoying yourselves on a fine get way.

Hint, Morels will be in full bloom! Just over the pass.

You mean the giant raisens? Are they delicious? 

[jackmaster]

well its not to far of a drive from where you will be but you can boogie over to mineral and do some bank fishn you will always catch somethn there, my little niece caught an 8 1/2 pound trout to weeks ago at the derby and got 2nd place, good luck and congrats on the anniversary

[Becky]

well its not to far of a drive from where you will be but you can boogie over to mineral and do some bank fishn you will always catch somethn there, my little niece caught an 8 1/2 pound trout to weeks ago at the derby and got 2nd place, good luck and congrats on the anniversary

Rimrock Lake looks about the closest... no idea what that lake is all about but daily limit of 16 kokanee sounds awesome haha. Hmmmm...

Thank you!

[Fishaholic]

get small pink corkies and run a 24 inch leader with a worm. for weight get split shot cast up stream and drift in down. works great every were I used it  at.



I cant wait til  the hump opens up for trout. Its going to be a slaughter!!!

Do you catch trout or just smolts?

 you only catch smolt if you fish shallow. you gotta use long leaders.

[sirmissalot]

There's some great fishing in the upper lakes of the Margaret backcountry if you're up for a little drive and a gorgeous hike. That's what I'd be doing if I was you, I would imagine all this nice weather has got things mostly thawed out by now.

[wildmanoutdoors]

From Mayfield Dam down river its wide open for fishing. Since no fish passage was built when the dam was installed salmon and steelies lurk no more. Its purely a hatchery fish factory.
Some Steelies and Silvers get trucked up to the Tieton and such, but Id just look to enjoying yourselves on a fine get way.

Hint, Morels will be in full bloom! Just over the pass.

You mean the giant raisens? Are they delicious? 

Ya that! Theres a reason there soooo sought after!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Lots of people fish Dog lake right at the top of the pass also!

[Smossy]

From Mayfield Dam down river its wide open for fishing. Since no fish passage was built when the dam was installed salmon and steelies lurk no more. Its purely a hatchery fish factory.
Some Steelies and Silvers get trucked up to the Tieton and such, but Id just look to enjoying yourselves on a fine get way.

Hint, Morels will be in full bloom! Just over the pass.

You mean the giant raisens? Are they delicious? 

Ya that! Theres a reason there soooo sought after!

I wouldn't know where to look, or how to prep them to eat?

[wildmanoutdoors]

When will you be there?

[Smossy]

When will you be there?

The weekend after this coming up one I believe. Or maybe even durring the week what do I know. My lady is the party planner.
Im just a dumb caveman. Within 2 weeks we will be there.

[Becky]

When will you be there?

The weekend after this coming up one I believe. Or maybe even durring the week what do I know. My lady is the party planner.
Im just a dumb caveman. Within 2 weeks we will be there.

  ... YOU KNOW which day our anniversary is on you dork.

13-15 is all lil getaway.

[Smossy]

When will you be there?

The weekend after this coming up one I believe. Or maybe even durring the week what do I know. My lady is the party planner.
Im just a dumb caveman. Within 2 weeks we will be there.

  ... YOU KNOW which day our anniversary is on you dork.

13-15 is all lil getaway.

DUH but I forget when you planned the actual trip, Don't yell at me in-front of the fellas!

[6x6in6]

When will you be there?

The weekend after this coming up one I believe. Or maybe even durring the week what do I know. My lady is the party planner.
Im just a dumb caveman. Within 2 weeks we will be there.

  ... YOU KNOW which day our anniversary is on you dork.

13-15 is all lil getaway.

DUH but I forget when you planned the actual trip, Don't yell at me in-front of the fellas!

Get a room you two.

Oh wait, someone doesn't remember when he's supposed to go to the room.

 

[Goldeneye]

When will you be there?

The weekend after this coming up one I believe. Or maybe even durring the week what do I know. My lady is the party planner.
Im just a dumb caveman. Within 2 weeks we will be there.

  ... YOU KNOW which day our anniversary is on you dork.

13-15 is all lil getaway.

Do we have a nickname here?  That could stick.....   

[wildmanoutdoors]

LOL. This is funny!

With warm weather like it is. It could be great Moreling!
If you guys want, I wll PM you with a couple starting locations.

[Smossy]

LOL. This is funny!

With warm weather like it is. It could be great Moreling!
If you guys want, I wll PM you with a couple starting locations.

Sounds good man, we were gonna hike anyhow. If we happen to come upon a huge stash we might have to send ya some.

[Austrian Hunter]

well its not to far of a drive from where you will be but you can boogie over to mineral and do some bank fishn you will always catch somethn there, my little niece caught an 8 1/2 pound trout to weeks ago at the derby and got 2nd place, good luck and congrats on the anniversary

Rimrock Lake looks about the closest... no idea what that lake is all about but daily limit of 16 kokanee sounds awesome haha. Hmmmm...

Thank you!

Rimrock Lake is good as long as you have a boat. 

[wildmanoutdoors]

 
If you wanna fish from shore Dog lake is your good bet.

If your gonna hike might as well look for Morels. Ill get ya a couple places to try closer to the top of the pass.

[Becky]

LOL .. Ya'll are more than welcome to call Smossy a dork, ... Sorry babe, you are king, amazing, wonderful, outstanding, all the fellas should take note   

6x6in6 - hahah oh man, that made me laugh.

Australian Hunter - thanks for that tidbit, it would be shore fishing for us, maybe we'll just stick to a hike instead.

[Austrian Hunter]

Clear Lake is close by, and it should be perfect for trout this time of the year.  Clear lake is after Rimrock lake and it has a few good spots to fish from shore. 

[elk247]

Hike to packwood lake at all costs. Beautiful lake, awesome trail. In my opinion its a bucket list place to visit in washington.

[Becky]

Hike to packwood lake at all costs. Beautiful lake, awesome trail. In my opinion its a bucket list place to visit in washington.

That's one of the hikes I have written down, the trail head is super close to where we'll be. Glad someone has done it and chimed in

Clear Lake is close by, and it should be perfect for trout this time of the year.  Clear lake is after Rimrock lake and it has a few good spots to fish from shore. 

I seen that on the map, couldn't figure out which "Clear Lake" it was in the regs, I am really unfamiliar with that area.

[Austrian Hunter]

I think Clear Lake is open, someone correct e if I'm wrong! 

[Smossy]

I think Clear Lake is open, someone correct e if I'm wrong! 

Yup. Book says 4th Saturday in April - October 31st

[Becky]

I think Clear Lake is open, someone correct e if I'm wrong!

Technically all of the Clear Lakes listed are open haha, just different regs for each one. I just don't know what county that is?

[gotshot]

I know of a couple lake right out of packwood. One is up on blakley rd and the other is up from the old ranger station. Really cool remote spots. The one up from the ranger station is really cool just to hike around but I have seen 24" cuts in it when in a rubber raft.

[elk247]

I think Clear Lake is open, someone correct e if I'm wrong!

Technically all of the Clear Lakes listed are open haha, just different regs for each one. I just don't know what county that is?

Packwood is in lewis county

[elk247]

I know of a couple lake right out of packwood. One is up on blakley rd and the other is up from the old ranger station. Really cool remote spots. The one up from the ranger station is really cool just to hike around but I have seen 24" cuts in it when in a rubber raft.

I think this one is packwood lake. Packwood lake has an island in the middle of it. Truley uniqie.

[Button Nubbs]

get small pink corkies and run a 24 inch leader with a worm. for weight get split shot cast up stream and drift in down. works great every were I used it  at.



I cant wait til  the hump opens up for trout. Its going to be a slaughter!!!

Do you catch trout or just smolts?

There is a nice population of cutties in there. The one in my avatar was a fly guys wet dream. But he really really wanted a diver and eggs. That said I wouldn't fish for "trout" in a "trout(steelhead)" season on a river that has a large population of smolt.