Is it worth going for smelt?

[fishinfool]

Anybody heard anything about how the smelt are running? Is it still worth the drive up there?
any info would be greatly appreciated. :grin:

[Stoyjun Princess]

We had friends go last weekend. They only got 75 smelt the whole day. They had 3 nets.. The weekend before we got our limits, it was real good.
Good luck!

The bend makes me grin :grin:

[Herring Impaired]

Check out www.kgw.com (http://www.kgw.com) They are saying that a huge pod of smelt are just a few miles from the mouth of the Sandy.

[craigc]

We would appreciate anyone that has any success on dipping for smelt on the Sandy to post their results... Troutdale is a lot closer to Portland than the drive to the Cowlitz... thanks...

[AngleThis]

I have friends that live very near the Cedar Creek hatcher hole on the Lewis...they did well last weekend and just got a new school of fish in yesterday (where the lewis forks off), so yes the Lewis is still happening, if you hit the spot right.

The Cowlets I visited last weekend.... great Eagle watching (dozens and dozens of baldys) but the smelt were pretty much history.

I'm going to hold out for the Sandy run. In fact, I may try an assult on the school in the Columbia this weekend. Besides which, I'm thinking there are some smelt gorging springers right behind that school that won't be able to resist a live side swimming smeltsicle.

[craigc]

********* - how do you get to the Cedar Creek Hatcher Hole from Portland ? I can get to the bridge over I5, but I don't know the area very well... thanks..

[AngleThis]

Craig C - U take the Woodland exit, make a right, take the first right, and its about 8 miles back. But wait! Smelt are now entering the Sandy and the school off the mouth is supposedly huge. I'm thinking about going after them in the boat tomorrow morning.

[AngleThis]

I can't resist any longer. I'm blowing outta here at around noon bound for the mouth of the Sandy. Target 1: fresh smelt. Target 2: chinook that have to be following the school. I'll post when I get back so everyone has a 'live at five' report.

[craigc]

********* - thanks for the directions! I too would like to take a bite out of that school of smelt potentially ready to come up the Sandy... I won't be available to do my dipping until after 10am tomorrow morning... if you hit the school and have a cell phone handy... dropping me a message at 503.753.8108 would be appreciated. Good luck and happy hunting ! :smile:

[luguando]

I took the kids and dog for a walk along the Columbia at Willow Grove launch (western longview - access by ocean beach hwy). I was tossing the ball out in the river - playing catch with our golden lab. We ran in to smelt after smelt. Our dog finally figured out that they were good to eat and she must of chowed down on over 20 of them. Great watching her dive down and come up with one. I think the dippers on the Cowlitz were dipping in the wrong place. That was last Sunday and I've heard that there are still lots of them around there. Sounds like the smelt run is HUGE this year. Great isn't it?!!

[kingfisher]

Call Carnival Market in Kelso for the lastest report.. 360-425-6622..

They rent nets and they are right on the river

Good Luck

[StreamSide]

********* ~ Ya might want to check out them regs first! I believe the Columbia above I5 don't open for Chinook until the 16th.

[AngleThis]

Yesterday I ran from Camas to the St. John's bridge and back, looking for that big shcool of smelt that was expected to hit the Sandy. Saw nothing; no smelt, no diving gulls, no big schools on the fish finder. Either they all went up the Sandy already, moved above Camas, or headed to another area. Anyone know where they went?

DC

[craigc]

... I checked Gerhart Park on the Cowlitz and the where the Lewis and I5 meet this afternoon.... There were a lot of dead smelt along the banks and in the river of both areas... There were a lot of seagulls flying around, they didn't to have any interest in the dead fish, which look pretty fresh to me..... I didn't catch any live smelt... Is this the end of smelt season for these rivers ????? I think I'm going to pack it in for the season, unless the Sandy develops anything this weekend... thank you mother nature !