What areas do you fish at riffe lake for kokanee and rainbows. I would be fishing off the bank and any directions would be appreciated. Also what tactics do you use?

Any info would be great.

Thanks in advance.

A lot of people fish right by the damn on the north side. If you're just banking it, I'd probably suggest that area because from a boat, we usually end up fishing around there anyway.

Driftin,
Usually the best bank access is back by Taidnapam Park, go past the park and you can fish on the fishing bridge or cross the bridge and go to the left and you will find Plenty of bank access all the way back to the dam. I best combination that has worked for me has been cocktail shrimp (you can purchase these from the grocery store in Morton) from a small hook with some split shot attached to it and fish it like you are drift fishing if you are anywhere near the dam. People at the fishing bridge usually use the same combo but utilize a bobber. My friend was there last weekend with his boy and got skunked. I have also had ample success utilizing any color Rooster tail. Hope this helps.
Matt

Driving Directions: Follow signs from Hwy 12 to Taidnapam Park (at west end of Riffe Lake)
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, coho
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Year-round

Go across the 108 bridge (the fishing bridge at the park) and take a left, stay on this road 'till you come to a log bridge. Just before the log bridge will be a road ( more of a goat trail, if you don't have 4wheel drive don't drive down it) to your left. This is Goat Crk and has consistently produced for me for many many years( I grew up in Morton). What has always worked for us has been an egg sinker with an 18" or 20" leader, a garlic marshmallow and half a night crawler. Put the egg sinker above the swivel and if you don't get some action in a half hour or so let a foot or so of line out and let the marshmallow take the worm another foot off the bottom
The 'mallow is just to get the worm off the bottom but no other flavor seems to work quite as well( we have done extensive testing on this subject...oh that was drinking..never mind)
Cast out about 20 or 30 feet and be patient, The hit will be sparodic as the schools move through.
If you like spinners a red or orange Rooster Tail can work, your catch will be generaly larger but fewer fish. You will want to be in river for that though.
If the lake is down and there is a river at the 108 instead of lake, take a right after the bridge and the next right at the Y , you want to wind up at the big sandbar thats way down on your right when you cross the bridge...usually the west side of that sandbar if there is current at the bridge...If you have any other questions let me know, I have fished that lake since I was a little kid and this time of year there can be one hell of a hellacious smallmouth bite depending on the water temp...

take exit 68 follow hwy 12 to flashing light @ mossyrock turn left, go through mossyrock, follow road out towards swafford pond, just before the bridge that crosses the stream that connects riffe & swafford turn left, go back on this as far as you can on this dirt/sorta gravel road, fish either by the concrete (pump looking) structure or walk towards the dam & @ the rock corner, use either store bought cocktail shrimp (put in microwave for 15 seconnds (no more) on split shots enough to touch bottom or put them on a bobber adjusting the depth until find the fish
PS do not forget drift a shrimp with 1 split down the creek under the bridge btwn swafford & riffe , let it sit in the deep hole @ the end of the run for a moment or so & try it again...

OOOPS, TURN RIGHT @ FLASHING LIGHT

What is the typicall size range on the Kokanees in Riffe? Trying to decide if I want to drive that far.

I don't have any pics scanned right now but 12 to 18 inches is average, and when they drained the lake above riffe all the kamloops were flushed to riffe, they were averaging about 2 lbs in '97. Same methodology...to catch 'em. Swofford is a good bet too. I usually fished the east end because it was much closer.
This time of year is a tough call, with the weather being what it is I would not figure on doing that well...once the weather evens out in late spring you are much better off, into late july to early August.

For whatever it's worth, there are no kokes in Riffe. Strictly speaking only landlocked Sockeye qualify as kokanee. Riffe has only landlocked Coho and Chinook as far as salmon go. (Of course it has trout too).

Now I have never fished riffe lake but like for Merwin kokes
You fish bobber and jig for steelhead? Rig it up just like that but with a small hook. Find your depth. Have a nice sand shrimp on. Cast out there let it slide down and wait for that bobber down.
Now I have only gotten like 3 koks off the bank, but this is how others have told me to fish them off the bank.

Also a good size spoon works to. I seem to set the hook tho when using them.

If you wanna try the bobber thing and don't know how to tie one up, hit me an e-mail.
Just my 2 cents.