smelting report

[chinook_hunter]

Did anyone go smelting to day? And how did you do

[Bait O' Eggs]

Richter
Your smelt reports are greatly appreciated. Nothing like getting fresh reports on what will be a short season, in numbers of days we can harvest. Thanks http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Ramstrong]

Spent the morning on the lower cow. Nothing of any consequence to report. We were more scouting than anything. Marked smelt in a couple of spots. Saw a couple of seals and there were some seagulls at the mouth. But was a pretty futile dipping attempt. Met NorRivDave, his boat had 0 in the buckets when we left. Looking forward to coming back when the run appears. By the way, dipnets are 19.99 at the Kelso True Value.

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-Ryan
www.xprt.net/~ryandsar (http://www.xprt.net/~ryandsar)
ramstrong@hotmail.com

[Fishplay]

I just paid $34.99 at Fishermans Marine! Anybody else feel the pinch lately at what used to be the best outfitter in the area. I've come to depend on these guys for everything. Make special trips(65 miles one way)to shop there because of the prices and selection. The last couple years i've noticed there pricing has gotten out of line and recently their selection. I've lost count of how many times they told me 'sorry were out of stock on that item".
I only get skunked at my favorite fishing hole so many times before I find a new one!

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FISH!........GET IN THE BOAT!!!!!

[WaterDog]

fishplay,
Talk to Tom at the sporting goods counter at Bi-mart in Mac. He can get almost anything you need as far as tackle and gear. Takes a week or so. Bait on the other hand is a different story. I asked about fresh shrimp and he said he cant get it. I've been driving to Tillimook for that! I also use Cabelas alot too. Beats driving to OC if I dont have to.

Hope this helps.

[Richter]

chinook hunter,

No one gets too excited until you start seeing alot of seagulls along the Cowlitz. I drove up along the river, from the mouth to Lexington (Carnival Market) and saw no seagulls. I saw only one person trying to dip. Results 0 smelt. We are probably still a couple weeks away. I live in Longview so I can check the river out often. I will keep everyone posted.

Rich

[Captain Hook]

I just called Bob's Sporting Goods in Longview and they said the smelt still hadn't entered the Cowlitz.

[fishchaser]

If you are going to come up to OC just drive another 2 miles up to Clackamas and talk to Gary Waterhouse @ Great American Tackle. He gets good shrimp and he even says that there is at least one lucky shrimp in the bucket. You just have to figure out which one.

He can get anything that fisherman's can get and you can call him ahead of time and see what the wait time will be.

He opens early for winter fishing. But he does take Sunday's off for his kind of worshipping. (fish gods)

I know that where you live and all it would probably be faster to run to the coast to pick up your bait.

[Deleted User]

If you think F.M.S. has gotten lax on inventory, GI Joes is much worse. It may be worse this season because of poor winter fish runs and they don't want to sit on large amounts of unsold inventory for a long time? ... Gary's shop is excellant. He only keeps good bait and is one of the few really honest people with a fishing report. If you take the Hwy.212/Estacada exit off of Fwy. 205 a couple miles north of Ore. City, head a block or 2 east to the first (or is it the second?) stop light and turn right (south) and go a fairly short distance and turn left into the small shopping mall, across the street from around Taco Bell, Great American Tackle is there. His honestly alone is worth giving him business. - RT

[Richter]

I heard the commercial guys did not do too well. I'll call a commercial buddy and confirm tonight. Very few to no seagulls along the Cowlitz, so my guess is that is another non-smelting weekend. I'll post something later tonight or in the morning.

Rich

[Ramstrong]

Bringing this back up to the top. Does anyone know how the commercial guys did this wednesday? Has anyone been to the lower river and marked a significant # of fish lately? I'm just curious if the limited amount of rain we got this week encouraged some fish to move up. I'm contemplating wether it's time to stock up on bait, or work on the car.

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-Ryan
www.xprt.net/~ryandsar (http://www.xprt.net/~ryandsar)
ramstrong@hotmail.com

[Barnyard]

Ram my guess is it ain't quite time...Haven't heard anything good. The last commercial report I heard was 40lbs. total