netting smelt question

Pan Fry · 02-03-2004, 12:22 PM

I know the a run is coming up soon.
I live close to the Cowlitz.
Will I have success if I had to do my dipping from the bank ? Or do I need a boat ?

My boat trailer is damaged right and needs fixing I was wondering if I should talk my uncle who doesn't sturg fish to take his boat out to dip for smelt. just curious.
pan fry

Boatdog · 02-03-2004, 12:25 PM

When thay're running good you don't even have to get your feet wet from the bank. Just wait until their thick, and you can 'sight' dip them.
I've dipped both out of the boat and from the bank on the Cowlitz. The bank at the right time was by far the easiest!

Edit: Take the boat if your gonna go Gator fishing after you collect some fresh bait!

[ 02-03-2004, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Boatdog ]

BigFishFever · 02-03-2004, 12:26 PM

I know last year we went off the bank and had no trouble at all.

There have been quite a few posts recently about boating, it looks like it can be done. But I dont think I would haul my boat for something I can get off the bank just as easy.

Good Luck!

fishchaser · 02-03-2004, 12:31 PM

That's the only way I dip. I had full freezer when we got done for the year. I would say we were getting 10lbs in 10 min. And that is not working very hard.

Pan Fry · 02-03-2004, 12:42 PM

Thanks guys !

Thanks ifish !

1 Smart Fish · 02-03-2004, 01:02 PM

Can you dip them in the Sandy from a boat??? or is this illegal???

Okie · 02-03-2004, 01:38 PM

It's legal to dip from a boat. First you have to have smelt in the river to dip and they haven't been runing in the Sandy very regular for quite a few years. It's not for sure they will be there this year.

ET · 02-03-2004, 01:43 PM

Netting smelt... Now you can work as hard as you want and spend as much time doing it as you enjoy.

But for me, I'll just wait until the run is thick and then I'll run down with my family and friends grab 10 lbs for each and go home. Bring a couple of kids and let them do the work! Don't have any? Bring the neighbors kids! They'll have a blast.

I'll save my boat and the boat cleanup for fishing!

TonTo · 02-03-2004, 02:54 PM

Hey ET it's 20lbs this year so you may not have to pack the car quite so tight,but hey the more the merrier. :grin:

[ 02-03-2004, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: TonTo ]