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Riffe Lake Report
Lewis County, WA

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Details

02/02/2013
36° - 40°
Top Fishing From Shore
Salmon
Shrimp
Pink
Windy
Bobber
Morning
02/02/2013
5
6344

Hello friends. My friend Rick Mendiola and I decided to venture to Riffe Lake in search of silvers. Our original plan to go ice fishing was changed due to unseasonally warm weather. We arrived about 8:30am and were back in his truck before 9am. We fished using shrimp below a slip bobber about 7 feet deep. There are lots of fish on the bite. All but 1 of the 10 was female carrying small egg sacks. They were also full of white tape worms. It's my understanding that these worms do not reside within the meat but rather the abdomen only. They do not make these fish inedible. Does anyone know where these tape worms are coming from? I have been fishing Riffe for 40 years and have never seen them in the fish. Maybe I am just lucky. Nonetheless, they cleaned up nicely and are going to be smoked. It was a trip that was a lot of fun but not for long. Great to get Rick after some fish he hadn't fished for before too. That's what it's about. Sure did miss my brother Jigmiester though. Soon. Tight lines brothers and sisters and take a kid when you can!

Pac


Comments

fishinChristian
2/2/2013 6:02:00 PM
They seem to be spreading. Used to see them in Red Rock, and some of the Crab Creek lakes, then they just seem to have spread out. Saw some in Roosevelt last year, which I find unfortunate. They are definitely in the I-82 ponds and Yakima River. Potholes has some, too. It ends up with skinny looking fish, or worse, but it's my impression they are not in the meat, either. I still cook the blazes out of the fish though. Don't want any 30' worms in my gut. Have you seen those things on the internet? Got one out of a horse one time that was over 20'. Been thoroughly cooking food ever since!

Looks like cold water fun, though.
pacbassman
2/2/2013 8:14:00 PM
It was a "silver storm", if you will. Just a bit of a concern that these parasites seem to be thriving. Curious about the long term effect. These silvers are going to look great in the smoker though! I have seen those monsterous tape worms. Not very pretty. I guess as long as the state fisheries biologists are aware of the wide spread population of the critters and show no signs of concern, then consumers are going to be fine. Not enough to keep most of us from the sport we love. Tight lines brother.
jd39
2/3/2013 9:18:00 AM
Nice fish pacbassman! I agree with fishinChristian be sure to cook the heck out of it, better to err on the safe side.
flyfisherguy
2/3/2013 9:26:00 AM
In response to pabassman: relying on WDFW to tell us when it's unsafe to eat fish from a lake is like relying on a used car salesman to tell you that there's a problem with a car you want to buy. You are much better off just using good common sense and THOROUGHLY cooking those fish. Here's an interesting article that's worth reading with regards to these parasites in salmon:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/GlobalHealth/story?id=7847413&page=1

No more sushi for this guy!

Anyways, thanks for the report. I'm going to make a trip there in the next couple of weeks.
pacbassman
2/3/2013 10:06:00 AM
Thanks friends. I also agree that there is no such thing as over cooked. We had a great drift to work the bait. 15-20 mph wind. Blowing into the corner helped as well. Makes me want to get a group together and go get some more of these scrappy little ladies. I am wondering if the fact that the females were in "prespawn" mode, if you will, if that is a key to their aggressive attacking??? Much like my favorite fish, crappie. The tape worms aren't pleasing to the eye but the coho meat is pleasing to the mouth. Hope I have the breed right. Sockeye in Rimrock and coho in Riffe? Any takers? Tight lines my friends and thank you so much for the imput. Appreciated as always.
Rocky
2/3/2013 10:17:00 AM
Pacbassman make sure you ask got to bless that meal and you will be fine. Thanks for the report I haven't't fished there since I moved
up to Spokane. Twenty fives ago take care brother. God Bless
The Jigmiester
2/3/2013 5:01:00 PM
Hey there Pac. Glad you and Rick got out as I am still on the mend from my foot infection. Anytime the action is fast and furious, it warms the heart. Thanks for sharing. Jiggy
pacbassman
2/4/2013 10:14:00 PM
Thank you for the kind words Rocky and Jiggy. It's really nice when you take someone fishing somewhere they've never been and they are on fish from the start. God Bless you both. Take care friends.
Pac
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709