Cowlitz Smelt Reports?

[SureSet]

Any update on how it was today? Crowds and Smelt?

Thanks!

SureSet

[crabbait]

Is it open Sunday. I am also looking for a report. Thanx guys.

[wiser]

Open 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM SAt, Sun and Wed. Friends are going early tomorrow AM on reports of limits from the bank. That's the best info I can give.

[fishineer]

My friend went this morning. Limited in about 20 minutes. Very few people.

[finclipped]

I went this afternoon and the crowds were reasonable and the smelt are in. About 10-15 minutes for a couple limits.

[Andy]

So where would you veterans recommend going? Would like to take the kids and get a few limits.

Thanks

[billfish]

:tongue: Four limits in 15 min at the boat ramp on the dike. Up to 30 fish per dip with 70% females. Only 10 people there. Long drive , but got our sturgen bait.

[Pitch Pocket]

Wife and I went to the Cowlitz this morning on the reports here of limits. We had two limits at the Carnival Market in less than 15 minutes. They were pretty shallow, right against the bank at my feet. Many were trying to reach out as far as they could and were coming up nearly blank. One person we talked to limited in 2 hours, so I guess it’s spotty. I had a couple of 4-5lb scoops. Left at 7 am, home by 10 am.

[brshooter]

The wife and I went up and dipped smelt this morning. Wasn't hot, but wasn't bad. Averaged 1 - 3 smelt per dip. Sometimes none, and sometimes half a dozen or more. With one net, it took us about 45 minutes to get two limits.

Hey billfish, How do you tell the females from the males? I know that the females are the prime sturgeon bait. I can tell on some of them just by the fact that they are bulging full of eggs, but no where near 70% for us. Are the males the skinny ones?

[SureSet]

Thanks guys. We just got done vac-paking. Took two cars this morning full of buddies, wives and kids and got 8 limits in 20 minutes. The hardest part was getting the buckets up the embankment to the cars.

Ours was pretty much a good mix of both sexes. Some looked to be about 8-10 inches, while the majority were 5-7.

Pressure was light compared to last year.

SureSet

[billfish]

:shocked: Brshooter;

The female Smelt are round and have a smooth feeling and the males are concaved along ther sides and have a sand paper -ery feeling. We cooked the males and vac packed the females for bait.
Best dipping year we have had in a few years. Longer net bag length realy helped this time.

[Grits]

Dipped today and got two limits in about an hour. Started out a little slow and by the end I was getting 10-20 a scoop. Definetely worth the drive because in a few weeks it will be a mad house. Still time to make there tonight!

[DF]

I just walked in the door from dipping,
Got our limits in about an hour
small crowds too

[Bait O' Eggs]

I dipped this afternoon, got the first limit in about 30 dips. Then I got the second limit in 4 dips. Took a bit to figure out just how far out they were traveling. I was upstream of carnival market. :tongue:

[fishineer]

Took my wife, daughter and friend this afternoon. We got two limits in about an hour. Also not very crowded. The kids had fun. :smile:

[Pilar]

We tried the boat ramp just up from the RR bridge. It took 45 minutes to get 3 limits. The state police were busy checking and writing tickets. Several of the smelt were 12" long!

With any luck I can convert some of these into a bent rod or two.

Almost forgot to ask. Has anyone ever seen smelt fishing with a rod and reel? We watched 'Popeil' (as in pocket fisherman) cast a herring jig and 1/2 ounce weight over and over again. About 1/2 the time he would yard in 2 or 3 smelt at once.

Is this method legal?

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: Pilar ]</p>

[BottomFeeder]

I was wondering if someone could help me, I would like to try my hand at this and need to know where the carnival market.

Thanks,


TPM

[brshooter]

Take the Kelso Exit (by Three Rivers Mall), turn left at the signal and head west. Cross the river and take the first right. You will see people dipping all along this road. Carnival Market is up the road on your left.

[Screaminreelron]

FREE STURGEON BAIT!!!!

We too went to the Cow on saturday. Easy pickens, limited in 20 minutes. 30 vacumned pacs of sturgeon bait :smile: Take Kelso xit. Go over bridge and take first right. This road follows the river north. About 4-5 miles out of town is where we were. A pull off on both sides of the road. Along the river is a rock levy. Just climb over it and hit the river---scoop till ya drop Some scoops were 1/3 full :shocked:

[Phil Layer]

Anybody scooping from a boat?