206'er wondering about MossyRock Dam right now

[johng]

Hi,

A buddy of mine and myself are hoping the fishing for kokanee at the base of the dam is still good this time of year.  We have never been but have heard the fishing for these salmon is good in the spring and fall.  What about now?  Any locals have any thoughts on the matter?

The plan was to use the 'ol slip bobber and some cocktail shrimp/white corn.  Perhaps also through some spinners.

What do you guys think?  Worth the drive this coming Saturday?   

THANKS!   

-jg

[206]

Thought you callin me out.

206 here, and I have been there.  Did the shrimp and bobber there when the Cow was dead a long time ago.  Seen a few caught, but it was hit and miss when I was there.  If it's on fire, there will not be much room.  There's better places to burn gas to.

[HntnFsh]

 You wont catch any Kokes there. They are landlocked silvers. Dont know how the fishing has been but have been seeing a few people fishing there. Half a dozen rigs yesterday. It usually starts heating up about now and can be lights out fishing at times. I will probably be going by there again today. If I do I will stop in and see whats going on. Hopefully give you a reliable report.

[doyourtime89]

Yeah I haven't been this year yet either.  But it was about this time last year when it started to pick up and we had some great trips down to the dam and also off the bridge at the park on the other end of the lake.

[johng]

You guys rock!!! 

Thanks,
jg

[johng]

Well, another question.... do you think these landlocked silvers are real deep now or are they still closer to the surface?  How deep would you guys start off fishing?   

[doyourtime89]

When I started around this time last year we were fishing like 6' to 8'.  After it got hotter we were down 20' to 25'.  We did good on shirmp and worms.

[Alchase]

Are you fishing from shore?
On the Mossyrock park side of the dam, there is a dirt road or path that runs towards the dam with a ton of shore access.
From boat, troll a zig zag pattern from the park towards the dam, depth depending on where you mark fish. Standard trout o Kokanee trolling gear will work.

I am not familiar with where the good spots are on the East end by Tiednapom/Kosmos, but I see people bringing fish in at the boat ramp often.

Watch for wind, it can pick up pretty quick around the corner by Swofferd pond. It took us an hour and a half to get back to Mossyrock park against a nasty wind and swell. Once we got back around the corner towards the park there was no wind at all.

[HntnFsh]

Figures, I was on top of the dam for a coupe hours today and couldnt even get you a report. Thinking I will be able to today.

[johng]

Thanks again to all who posted suggestions and for the scouting reports.  It made the 2.5 hour drive from the (206) well worth it.  Me and my buddy had a great day out at the dam, it was beautiful weather, we met some really nice folks fishing next to us AND.... we both caught some decent sized landlocked silvers!  Thank you Jesus!

We would catch dinks on spinners and spoons but the good sized ones were all taken off the trusty slip bobber with either a worm, a piece of shrimp or a combo of the two suspended beneath.  We started out fishing 6-8 feet down and went to about 12 feet down as the day warmed up.  People were catching fish throughout the day but it wasn't what the local folks were saying like it can be. 

Here are a couple pics. 

Cheers,

Jg

[wsucowboy]

Started fishing there about a year ago, did really well fishing with a worms at 10'

[Alchase]

My son and I headed down to Riffe on Saturday. Pulled in to get gas at the 76 station just outside of Eatonville, and as I went to pull out, we hear a bang, thump, thump, thump, coming from the drivers side front. I get out and look under the truck, my front drive shaft is just hanging there! I call the wife to come get us and the boat and AAA to get my truck and tow it to South Hill Pep boys. $686.00 later I find out a $2.00 clip broke, the drive shaft come loose and slammed into my drivers side shock denting the crap out of it. 

Sunday we head down to Riffe, this time with no mishaps, LOL.
The lake was up to normal levels, and only a few boaters on the water. We were trolling a flasher followed by a hootchie and a night crawler teaser. Five minutes from the dock heading towards the dam, my son hits a 20 1/2" coho. I am hooking a few shakers until about an hour later I hook up a 23" coho! 
My son got one more 18 1/2" coho and I caught a 18" rainbow for a total of 4 good sized keepers.

We get back to the dock about 3:00, and hear about a lady fishing from the rocks on the east side service road, who hooked up a 18 lb chinook! 

I have been hearing for years there were chinook in Riffe, but I had never seen one caught.

FYI, the people who work the Mossy Rock Park, need to teach the state parks how to run things. The park was perfectly clean, the bathrooms, the fish cleaning stations, and the facilities were in great condition. And the only charge $5.00 to get in. 

We only saw about twenty boats the whole time we were there, for a free fishing weekend, with no crowds, made for a great day on the water.

[johng]

Dude!  Sorry to hear about your truck but at least it wasn't anything too serious and you guys got into some good sized fish!