Cowlitz/noochie

Capin' Dan · 12-27-2000, 04:04 AM

Fished the cow on Tuesday. Totally dead, dead, dead. I saw only one fish caught by one of the guides still lots of people out for a boat ride though. Buddy of mine called and said to get out in the drift boat on the NOOCHIE and fish it up high. This is one of my favorite little scenic rivers and it puts out a lot of fish in January. I have had the best luck with plugs and sandshrimp. Good luck and knockem dead.

dummy · 12-27-2000, 04:48 AM

dan i heard the nooch was dead and a zoo. everyone from the cow is on the nooche.

newt · 12-27-2000, 08:45 AM

Dummie's got it pegged on the nooch. It's 5 minutes from my house and has been SLOW. It's worth mentioning that this river is not the tranquil float it was 5-6 years ago. As the cowlitz fishery has deteriorated, many "sled" guides have shifted to the wynoochee because of it's proximity to the freeway(easy access)and relatively predictable run of fish.

What is frustrating is that the ethics of not running sleds on a small river has been flushed down the toilet in the name of "gotta get those clients a fish...screw everyone else!" Hard to imagine? O.K try this: You get up extra early for a day on the Wilson. You will take out at Donaldson's. You barely start your float in the pre-dawn when the roar of a jet boat can be heard in the distance coming your way. After getting the first hole to yourself, you spend the rest of the day "sharing" the water with a dozen or more sleds of all sizes free-drifting every hole below you. That's not even including the driftboats and bankies.

Sounds like fun doesn't it?

Welcome to the Wynoochie in winter.

Roeboat · 12-27-2000, 09:36 AM

Fished the Cowlitz on Monday from the sled. It wasn't that crowded for a december day. I saw about 45 guys at Blue Creek, 6 on the gravel bar, 4 drift boats and around 15-20 sleds(4 guide sleds). I saw only five fish hooked and three landed although there were undoubtably some others caught that I didn't see. We landed one of the three. A three salt chrome hen around 14-15 pounds(with massive net marks) on a very small clump of eggs boondoggled thru Hinkley drift. It was very slow but the weather was beautiful and it still beats sitting around the house. I hope the run is just late. Normally at this time the smaller and more numerous (2 salt) hatchery fish are in.

rags · 12-27-2000, 09:38 AM

Let's get the sleds off all the rivers except the Columbia and the Willamette!

alwyze fishin · 12-27-2000, 05:47 PM

You got my vote rags.

dummy · 12-27-2000, 06:24 PM

i almost got ran over at the spurce tree hole though maybe i could have the hole if i got there first. it was dark and i am a bankie i was waded out in the midle and started fishing. i heard the sled coming and thought he would see me instead it must of been a good conversation because he headed rite for me and finaly noticed me and turned. didnt say sorry and didnt stop. i should have snaged him off his boat and kicked his a$$. i wont fish bellow the diversion now. what are sleds on a river that size anyways.

Roeboat · 12-27-2000, 08:26 PM

You want to get the sleds off the Cowlitz??? Good luck is all I can say. It is a big river with big water and can easily handle a lot of boats at one time and the bank access is limited. I fished it for years from my driftboat with sleds everywhere and rarely had a problem. I also fished for many years prior to that from the bank and never had a problem with sleds. Many of the sled owners are extremely polite and fishing water untouched by the bank anglers in case you haven't noticed. When I fish the Nooch I use my driftboat although I see no reason a sled shouldn't run from Black Creek area down when the water level is up.

[This message has been edited by Roeboat (edited 12-27-2000).]