When to the upper Riffe yesterday of landlock coho and the fishing was very good.Most of the fish were 18" to 20".Get a limit in about 3 hours.Shrimp was the hot bait but nightcrawler and corn worked to as did crawler and shrimp scent nice fish all pink meat. The lake is at full pool right now so fishing is good.

I did the same thing last weekend. Lots of people at the fishing bridge (some because of the free weekend). Limited on large 16-20 inchers for the smoker. Cooked cocktail shrimp worked the best but is softer than raw. Because of that you have to stick them at the first nibble. Still, you go through 6-10 shrimp per fish. There are thousands of them.

Fish junky it sure is fun fishin up there a

Ya. We were camping at the Tacoma Power Campground (starts with a 'T'), great campground BTW. I was planning on fishing on the main Cowlitz Sunday morning, possibly Barrier. I brought all my gear to do that (fly rod, vest, drift rod) and on a second thought threw in the trout rod and tackle box. Glad I did. Just fished for the silvers the whole weekend. I thought, "Why go fishing were I have a slim chance of catching something, when I can stay here and stock up for the smoker!" Great fun, strong fighters too!

Yes been fishing hard for the big fish and not catching.so been go for the silver and trout.Went below the dam a Mossyrock and get a limit of trout on sat. that was fun to

I've always wanted to get up there and get some the silvers, what is the setup for those fish. Are you guys trolling or bobber/shrimp, etc.? Thanks for any info, it doesn't sound like a secret spot.

Just put on a #4 or#6 hook and spit shoot about 2' above and throw it out.Your fish on a bridge and when it hit the water lock the reel it will sink and float towards the bridge.Your fish straight up and down.

I used to fish Upper Riffe all the time growing up. Know that bridge QUITE well. Remember when you could ONLY fish it on weekends (the fishing bridge wasn't even thought of then, and logging trucks would barrel over it during weekdays). The old Red Zone for Mt St Helens was on the south side of the bridge. You could fish on it, but if you touched the road on other side there was a sheriff there to arrest you. What sucks is I used to camp for free where that park is now. Rarely anyone camped there in the 70's and 80's. Not sure when they put that park in. But remember my buddy came over from Germany and wanted to see the area I used to fish/camp. Took him up there and there was a park (was about 91'). Then, went to take him out on the peninsula (would 4x4 out to it all the time) and it was LOCKED OFF!!! One of the biggest trout I've caught was off that bridge. Actually had to horse it over and land from the shore (not hoist up to bridge). Was an 8# rainbow (not a landlocked salmon, but a nice fat bow'). That park is no secret now. Man, can't believe how they ruined a good spot. Liked the more rustic feel. Now there's a fishing bridge and a campground. Then they had nerve to shut off road access to upper Cowlitz (used to be nice flyfishing only water there years ago). Couldn't get my 4x4 through the trench they put up there. Sheesh.