Fresh Cowlitz Smelt anyone?

[Boatdog]

Time Off,

Thank you for the report. Mostly males or females? The pilot run is usually all males.

[Bill Monroe]

Working on a story for Monday's Sports Extra, but word from a netter last night (40 pounds for two of them) is there was a mix of small, chrome females and males, so this IS the run...Washington fish and wildlife says the columbia is thick all the way to astoria...none yet in either the lewis or sandy.

[edsr]

Is this fishery open to non-residents without a Wash. St. fishing lic.?
edsr

[Boatdog]

As far as I know, YES!

[iwanttofish]

At todays meeting they said the nets last night got over 10,000 lbs.

[Stz ll]

No license is required for smelt dipping in either Oregon or Washington. Get your net and bucket and go get them.

[ 02-05-2004, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: Stz ll ]

[Abalone]

What is the limit in Washington. I ten pounds correct ?

I haven' t been in years but I have a net and I am not afraid to use it.

[WaterDog]

This year it's 20 lbs in Wa.

[Ragnar]

It's 2:45pm on Thursday Feb.5 right now just got back from the Cowlitz.
Took twenty minutes to get 40lbs between two of us.
We used a boat and put on a regular clinic for the guys on shore. Just anchor 5'-10' off the bank and dip on the bank side. the smelt were right in tight up in the willows and grass.
Boat=no waders in cold water too. That's nice. A lot nicer on the back as well.
Good luck,
Ragnar

[Boatdog]

Thanks Ragnar.

How was the ratio of males vs. females?

[El Toro]

Is smelting open to all hours or restricted? If restricted, what is the time frame?

[Fish_N_Russ]

Wish they were in rivers a little closer, id love to get some :depressed:

[Freakwater]

Are there good places to access in Longview? Or where would one go coming up from the 'Couv?

(EDIT).....and what does 20# look like in a 5 gal. bucket?

Rookie

[ 02-05-2004, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Freakwater ]

[fishnbus]

I haven't dipped for over 20 years and no longer have a net. :whazzup: Do they still rent nets anywhere? [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] My Dad is 80 now and he loves 'em smoked so I'm gonna git him some.

[fish Addict80]

Hit the Cowlitz at 11:00am and got 2 limits and left by 11:45. Only saw a few other people dipping. The ratio is about 50/50 males to females. At least thats what I ended up with. Dipped under the north bridge on west side of river. Got enough sturg bait for the year.

[ 02-05-2004, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: fish Addict ]

[Time Off]

Boatdog; I think I had more males then females. Could be a pilot run.

[Time Off]

I snuck out of work on my lunch. Lucky my work is about 6 blocks from the Cowlitz. First dip produced about 30 smelt. 0-30 per dip after that. What I got looks a little smaller than last years.