Sandy Smelt Run

LuckySteelhead · 03-02-2004, 12:57 PM

Was really great last year! Has anyone been out there getting any? I think it was about this time last year that they were there.

Freakwater · 03-02-2004, 01:07 PM

I don't know jack about commercial fishing for smelt, but I was at Tony's Smokehouse in OC and a guy there said that he was told by someone at Ocean Beauty Seafood (where Tony's gets their smelt) that all the commercial boats were calling it quits. They think the Cowlitz run is over and are not expecting a run of any size on the Sandy this year. For what it's worth.......... Maybe the guy was just trying to get me to buy his last 3 lbs. of smelt.

Freak

gottafish · 03-02-2004, 02:00 PM

I got 24 smelt in the sandy about a month and a half ago every one thought I was full of crap but I did. Have not seen any more.

SafetyChain · 03-02-2004, 02:40 PM

Give a man a heart attack why don't you! :shocked:

TonTo · 03-02-2004, 03:35 PM

I've got a comercial dipper that lives up the road from me...yestarday I saw him towing his boat up the road with smelt poles hanging out the back.It got me alittle excited till I drove by his place and noticed he was acctualy bringing it home and putting it away.

But I'm still hoping for a late showing of the smelts.

LQQKASTAR · 03-02-2004, 05:09 PM

im about ready to do my smelting at albertsons

Fish Tales · 03-02-2004, 06:47 PM

Good thing DAB talked me into dipping while the pilot run was in on the cowlitz we put up 70 dozen

[ 03-02-2004, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Boatramp ]

garyk · 03-02-2004, 09:35 PM

Last year we dipped the Sandy on February 25th, and the main run had already been in for a week.

For this year, all the signs sure looked good - but I'm not holding my breath.

bucketmouth · 03-02-2004, 09:37 PM

I got a few dozen while they were in the Cowlitz. Am holding out that more will show.

Fishplay · 03-03-2004, 06:54 AM

The run history has always been closer to the middle of March than February.

The ocean conditions could not have made that quick of a turn around. The last four years have been progressively better to the point we even saw a decent run in the Sandy last year.

I would not be surprised by a weaker run but I can not beleive we've seen all this year has to yeild.

Time to praise the fish Gods!

Born to be Wild · 03-03-2004, 07:24 AM

I think they'll be here yet.
I don't think that was the main run and they haven't showed up anywhere else yet.
I think the water is a bit chilly too?

Dan

fishchaser · 03-03-2004, 12:04 PM

I defrosted the bait freezer yesterday, and found packs of smelt from the cowlitz dated 25 MARCH 00. there is still an eye of hope out there. Let the water warm up a bit and they will be back.

TonTo · 03-03-2004, 02:02 PM

Well that '00 run would be the parents of this years maybe a spring run is getting bred

but according to todays paper it doesn't look too good.Still hoping for em though.

[ 03-03-2004, 11:15 PM: Message edited by: TonTo ]

bucketmouth · 03-03-2004, 09:23 PM

They don't always make their way to the Sandy. Even if they show in the Cowlitz and or Lewis. It usually has to be a pretty strong run for them to make the Sandy. This year certainly does not seem like a strong run. But who knows. If like others have said, the water warms, we might still see the little critters in all three rivers.

wigggler11 · 03-04-2004, 05:13 PM

two words....no show!!!

Beefcake · 03-04-2004, 07:54 PM

Hee hee hee! I was in Ranier on business the day they showed last month, and I borrowed a guy's net and got a limit in about 15 mins. I took people back with me the next two days in a row, so I've got about 120# in the freezer. I think I'm gonna save them until about June, then start trading with some of you that have better luck catching shad than I do. Look for a post "want to trade: gator bait for crab bait".