Title: SW Washington - Lewis County Fishing Areas
Date of Article: 2008-06-16
Article:
Carlisle Lake (20 acres): This popular opening-day lake near
Onalaska is generously stocked with catchable-size rainbow
trout for opening day, plus some broodstock (20-26
inches) rainbows and several thousand brown trout. An
additional rainbow plant will be made in May. Carlisle also has
largemouth bass, with a 14-inch minimum size limit for
bass. Public access is available. Internal combustion engines are not
allowed. Open season is from the last Saturday in April through February
28.
Cowlitz River: See Cowlitz County for a general description
of the species available. The access area at Cowlitz Trout Hatchery (Blue Creek)
provides a boat launch and is one of the most popular bank fishing areas on the
river. Mill Creek and Blue Creek will be open in December to provide an
additional hatchery winter steelhead opportunity. Night closures and non-buoyant
lure restrictions will be in effect during this one-month fishery on these
streams. For river flow information, call Tacoma City Light fishing hotline at
1-888-502-8690. Disabled accessibility at Blue Creek - level 3. WCT, lgs, Blk
Tpa.
Fort Borst Park Lake (5 acres): Located in Fort Borst Park
near Centralia, this family fishing lake (juveniles or licensed adults
when accompanied by a juvenile) is stocked with catchable-size rainbow
trout for opening day. This lake has also been selected to receive a
bonus plant of large triploid rainbow trout (averaging 1-1/2 pounds apiece).
These sterile fish can grow to trophy size if not harvested. Open season runs
from the last Saturday in April through February 28.
Mayfield Lake: The big attraction on this Cowlitz River
impoundment is tiger muskies. The state record for this
introduced hybrid is currently 28-1/4 pounds. Most of these fish are caught
during the warmer months. The minimum size limit for muskies is 36
inches (but anglers are asked to consider releasing all muskies).
Yellow perch are also caught in fair numbers. Fishing should be
good this year for stocked catchable-size and one-pound rainbow
trout. Year-round open season.
Mineral Lake (277 acres): Located about three miles south of
Elbe, Mineral Lake often rewards anglers with a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier.
More than 100,000 fingerling rainbows are planted each year,
and good fishing is anticipated for trout up to 12 inches long with a few larger
ones. 13,000 catchable-size rainbows were raised in net pens this past winter,
to be released for the spring opening. Some broodstock rainbows
will also be planted before the opener, plus several thousand brown
trout. This lake has also been selected to receive a bonus plant of
large triploid rainbow trout (averaging 1-1/2 pounds apiece). These sterile fish
can grow to trophy size if not harvested. Open season is from the last Saturday
in April through September 30. There is restricted boat access, so patience is
needed when launching. A new public fishing dock has been built to provide very
good access for all anglers. Disabled accessibility - Level 2. WCT, lgs, steep
in places.
Plummer Lake (12 acres): Catchable-size rainbow
trout will be planted for opening day. There are also yellow
perch, bluegill and a few largemouth
bass in this lake located off I-5 at Centralia. The season runs from
the last Saturday in April through February 28. Plummer has limited public
access, with a car-topper launching area.
Riffe Lake (11,830 acres): This large reservoir on the
Cowlitz River is open all year, and provides good fishing for
brown, rainbow and cutthroat
trout, landlocked chinook and coho
salmon, smallmouth bass (and a few
largemouth), bluegill,
crappie, and brown bullheads. Boat launches
are at the east and west ends, with bank access near the dam and at the bridge
near the upper end of the lake. Mossyrock Park, south of the dam, has camping
facilities that can be reserved by calling (360) 593-3900. To check reservoir
levels, call 1-888-502-8690 toll-free.
Scanewa Lake (610 acres): Impounded in 1994 by Cowlitz Falls
Dam, this reservoir southwest of Randle is closed from March 1 to May 31 to
allow out-migration of juvenile salmonids. The reservoir is stocked with
catchable-size rainbow trout by Lewis County PUD. Two parks
have been constructed by the PUD, one for day use and one with campgrounds. The
campground park is closed during winter; about Oct. 1 through May 1. Both parks
should provide good accessibility for disabled persons. Both parks offer a boat
launch with 8-foot dock. To get to the day-use facility, turn on Savio Road west
of Randle, go south on Kiona Road 2 miles to Falls Road, 3.7 miles and left on
Champion Road 240, then left on the next road to the park.
Skate Creek: This popular stream near Packwood is stocked
with catchable-size and one-pound rainbow trout before the June
1 opener and throughout the summer. Check the regulations pamphlet for
special trout size limits.
South Lewis County Park Pond (17 acres): This small pond
southeast of Toledo will be planted with catchable-size rainbow
and brown trout this spring. The pond has access for both boat
and bank anglers. Some largemouth bass and bluegill
are also available, and a few tiger muskies were introduced in 1999.
Year-round season.
Swofford Pond (240 acres): Located near the south shore of
Riffe Lake east of Mossyrock, Swofford is open all year.
Bluegill, crappie, largemouth
bass, and brown bullheads are available.
Channel catfish have been stocked; a couple of fish in the
20-pound class have been caught. Swofford will also receive
plants of several thousand catchable-size rainbow and
brown trout in the spring, and there are some large carry-over
browns in the lake. Gasoline engines are not allowed.
Tilton River: The mainstem from the mouth to West Fork is
planted with catchable-size and one-pound rainbow trout before
the June 1 stream opener and throughout the summer. Surplus hatchery steelhead
and salmon are released here during fall and winter. Check the regulations
pamphlet for special trout size limits.
Submitted By: Lost Creek Fly Shop
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