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