2/13 Lewis River Smelt

[Re:Play]

Just got back from the Lewis in Woodland. Like the previous posts, first Woodland exit and dip right behind the Texaco station on the right after you get off I-5. We left at 0630, never been there before, dipped, and arrived back home at 7:25 with our 2 limits of 20# each. :smile:

When you walk down to the river on the west side of the Texaco parking lot, dip from where the trail comes down to about 50' upriver from there.

Now if the sturgeon would be half as easy! :cheers:

[CATCH AND EAT]

Jerry, I went up there last night since they increased the limit to 20lbs. eight dips and I was done. I now have a freezer shelf full of sturgeon bait for the rest of the year. And if I don't use them all they will be fed to the crabs, in a crab pot that is. Muhhhhhahahahaha. :dance:

[ketchumfast]

Catch and Eat: I had a friend who tried smelt in crab pots a few years ago, and he said they didn't work very well. I think he was crabbing in Netarts Bay. Have you had good luck useing them as crab bait? I too have alot more than I may use for sturgeon.

[ketchumfast]

Catch and Eat: I had a friend who tried smelt in crab pots a few years ago, and he said they didn't work very well. I think he was crabbing in Netarts Bay. Have you had good luck useing them as crab bait? I too have alot more than I may use for sturgeon.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Ketchumfast, they worked just fine in T-bay last year. Plus the seals don't like them much so there is a bonus there.

[rainrshine]

Re:play.......thanks for the report. I went down there this afternoon and limited in 10 min. Everyone that was down there limited quickly and then someone else would come down and limit. Its fun to watch dad's bringing down there kids and having so much fun :grin:

[Re:Play]

rainshine--If I can convince my self that I need or can give away more smelt I may take my grandsons up Saturday. You are right, there is something about a 7 and 9 year old that this activity is excellent for. :cheers:

[BottomFeeder]

Dipped the "Texaco hole" this morning at 6:10am. 20#s in four dips!


-BottomFeeder

[ketchumfast]

Bottomfeeder, thanks for the info. I am waiting for some friends from White Salmon to show up , and then we are off to the Texico w/ dip net in hand. Will post how we did when we get back.

<*{{{{><

[Cast'n'Blast]

Must have seen you down there this morn BottomFeeder......got close to 20 lbs. in one dip which was plenty for me. I was the first one down there(behind Texaco) and at 6:00 you could see a solid stream of the wrigglers and even some on the top.

[BottomFeeder]

Cast'n'Blast, yup that was me in the Blue truck! I could see'um in the water as well. And just think, that was one 8ft stretch of water on the entire Lewis. There's gotta be just millions of them out there!


-BottomFeeder

[fishing is life]

thank you ifish and ifishers. went there last night and same thing. nature is awesome.

most everybody down there are patient to wait thier turn. is this the only place to do this? seems there have to be other places with more room.

[Pete]

Those fish are sooooo thick I didn't even dip a net and I got 20 pounds in my bucket! :grin:

Thanks Shooter!

graemlins/applause.gif

[brshooter]

Anytime Pete,
Got there at 6:50. Took longer to walk from the truck to the river than it did to dip my limit. 4 dips and I had to dump some back.

Saw a lot of waste down there today. Smelt scattered all over the bank. Wasn't like that on Wednesday morning. There was probably a limits worth just laying on the bank. There was one pile that looked like it had about 5 pounds in it. Sure there may be millions of the little guys in the river, but as a sportsman, there is no reason to waste fish.

[Cast'n'Blast]

Agreed on the waste...saw it this morning as well-I could understand leaving 1 or 2 when it's dark and you're by yourself but we should try to only dip what we're going to use and take all that we dip........i did do a couple c & r dips though since the fun only lasted about 2 mins.....

[Thumper]

Did you notice that they were mostly males? What a run must still be coming!!! In more than 40 years of watching the Lewis for smelt I've never seen anything like this.

Gonna try a bobber and jig on them today. :dance:

[brshooter]

Thumper,
When I dipped Wednesday morning, I had about 40 percent female. Today I had probably 70 percent female.

[ketchumfast]

Just got back awhile ago from the Texico spot, with my White Salmon friends. It took the woman (who had never done this before about 5 dips w/ the net handle not extended to get 1 1/2 limits. I had gone back to the truck to get my camera, and when I got back I told her she had to pull out the other part of the handle if she wanted to get any fish. About that time she lifted the net about 1/2 full of the slippery ones, so I kept my mouth shut from then on :grin: I may look dumb, but I'm not stupid. No more smelt, now on to bigger and better things !
<*{{{{><

[CATCH AND EAT]

Hey Bill, how much of that smelt can you eat? :wink: :grin: The dipping in the Lewis is not even a challenge. I have put away 100lbs now. That should do me for the year.

Funny thing though. While at GI joes last night I got curious and looked in the bait freezer. NO SMELT!!!!!! :shocked: Have'nt had any for two days according to Tony. What are they thinking? :whazzup: graemlins/stupid.gif

[brshooter]

I ate bait once. That was enough. I have dipped 85 pounds between the Sandy and Lewis. Way more than enough for sturgeon bait. Some may end up in the crab traps I think. Only went today because my father in law heard about my smelt and wanted some smoked. That old Swede will eat anything fishy. I dipped my limit, picked out about 50 males to smoke up for him, and dropped the rest off at Pete's on my way home.

It works out pretty good. I fill up my truck while I am up there and the savings just about pays for the trip. Good excuse to get out of the house anyway.

[Jerry Dove]

True story. Five limits (five people) in 25 minutes. Took another 15 minutes picking up garbage. Five buckets of smelt and one of garbage. NOT GOOD. I know it was not any ifishers. Take an extra bucket just for the garbage that other slobs leave behind. Thanks. Jerry

[StinkyFish]

Good Job JD I cant remenber the number of empty beer cans and bottles i have packed out of a river (not mine)

[ 02-15-2003, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: StinkyFish ]

[Mr. Fisherman]

I plan to take my son out, as he has been hounding me to take him. I wonder where he gets it from? Anyway, do you need waders at the Texaco hole? I want to find a place where he can dip and do well. He is 9 but tough.
Also, what exit is the Texaco on?
I usually go to the Cowlitz...
Thanks in advance,

[Steelie Steve]

Don't know about the waders, but the Texaco Exit is the main Woodland Exit just north of the I-5 bridge over the Lewis River. Hang a right at the light and go straight about 1/4 mile or so. Texaco is on the right.

Don't know if they are still up there, but the Happa Ramp on the south side of the river had them thick last weekend. Dipping at your feet on the bank.

Enjoy!

Steve :cheers:

[rfishman47]

Just got back from the Lewis,we had to dip about an 8th of a mile up from the texaco over the sea wall. Took about 1 1/2 hours to dip 3 limits,biggest smelt that I have seen! Plus they were doing real well at RV park right across from the yellow loader on the other side of river.

[justcastn]

Dipped tuesday with a bunch of buddys,and I'm the one that had to go buy another frezzer.And boy is it full!! Gators here I come :dance:

[Thumper]

No waders or even rubber boots are needed at the Texaco.

[Snapshot]

help me out here. I have been out of town and it sounds like I missed our on all the fun. I hope Catch and Eat is not storing that 100 lbs where I do. graemlins/lurk.gif
Are the smelt still behind the Texaco and is this a daytime show or night time deal? I have a son in law in town and thinking about taking them tomorrow. Where can I go and do we have to have separate buckets?

Bernie, can I use your net?............ My snoopy doens't work on Smelt.


*fish only bit wet hooks*

[Ramstrong]

Well I was torn between the Lewis and the Sandy, but opted for the lewis. It was a mistake. I didpped for about 1/2 hour above the texaco at the riffle and got 5 smelt. Then I moved down to the texaco and got about 3/4 gallon in the next 1/2 hour. So for an hours dipping 3/4 gallon of smelt. All of the smelt I got were males that seem to have spawned/ leaking milt. There were a couple of spots that produced 1-5 smelt per dip, but most averaged a smelt every 2-3 dips. Not a glowing report I must say. Elvis has left the building. Go to the Sandy!

[Sore Back]

About the garbage Jerry took the time to pick up, if we all did that, our rivers would be a safer, cleaner and prettier place to enjoy. A clean beach contributes to the relaxation of those who enjoy the location.

Let's all attach one of those little plastic grocery bags we get every time we go to the store to our belts. It's surprizing how full you can get it following a day on the river.

Good fishing,

Sore Back

[Mr. Fisherman]

Thanks for the update Ryan, you may have saved us a trip. Drifty and I are taking my son out today. Guess we'll try the Sandy :wink: .

[Mr. Fisherman]

Easy limits ON THE SANDY for my son, Drifty, Jim and myself. My bucket was full in three dips. :grin:
It really did only take about 20 minutes. It took longer to walk down to the water and back :wink:

[ 02-22-2003, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

[rfishman47]

TTT