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Fishing Riffe Lake: what the data says
11,326-acre reservoir near Mossyrock. The lake tops out around 360 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Riffe Lake draws 9,345 acres inside 48.2 miles of shoreline — 7 islands included. With a shoreline index of 3.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 16% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Riffe Lake
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Riffe Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (12 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (39 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Crappie fishing at Riffe Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Sharp break (12 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (306 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Riffe Lake
Spring puts bluegill in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 25 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Riffe Lake
Spring puts brown bullhead in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 25 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring brown bullhead. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (306 ft) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Riffe Lake
When the water first warms, cutthroat trout slide up into 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (12 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Riffe Lake also holds coho salmon (30 to 70 ft in summer), chinook salmon (50 to 120 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 306 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 180 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 90 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 90 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 39 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 12 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 4 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 3 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 3 ft
Riffe Lake stocking report
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2 | Steelhead | 49,076 | — |
| May 26 | Steelhead | 49,076 | — |
| Jan 27 | Chinook | 508,400 | — |
| Jan 6 | Chinook | 410,000 | — |
| Nov 20, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 11,516 | — |
| Oct 27, 2025 | Steelhead | 7,663 | — |
Source: WDFW fish-stocking reports, retrieved 2026-07-29.
Riffe Lake fishing regulations
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Washington waters are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Riffe Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Riffe Lake?
Riffe Lake is about 360 ft (110 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Riffe Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, chinook salmon, coho salmon, cutthroat trout, brown bullhead on Riffe Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Riffe Lake?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
When is the best time to fish Riffe Lake?
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Is Riffe Lake stocked with fish?
Yes — per WDFW fish-stocking reports records, Riffe Lake was most recently stocked Jun 2 with 49,076 steelhead. The full stocking history is listed above.
What are the fishing regulations for Riffe Lake?
Fishing on Riffe Lake is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Nearby waters
Mineral Lake 17 mi · Cowlitz River 20 mi · Clear Lake 24 mi · Elbow Lake 24 mi · Silver Lake 27 mi · Silver Lake 27 mi · Ohop Lake 28 mi · Lake Lawrence 28 mi · Merrill Lake 28 mi · Rapjohn Lake 28 mi · Harts Lake 29 mi · Clear Lake 30 mi
See how Riffe Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Washington · best smallmouth bass lakes in Washington · best crappie lakes in Washington · best bluegill lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.