COWLITZ SMELT REPORT 03/09/04 6:30pm

Freakwater · 03-09-2004, 07:38 PM

Sucked. Bad.
One smelt per ~20 dips.
Every time I caught a smelt I had to eat it to have enough energy to carry on.

Freak

Tide Change · 03-09-2004, 07:51 PM

Freak - Maybe it's just being in the right place at the right time. I dunno - I'm new to this. I posted this on another thread a little earlier this evening:

Afternoon update on the Cowlitz.
(2 guys) + (1 net) x (2 hours) = 30 lbs.
Packed out at 30 dozen.
Deeper water seemed to hold them better. Patience was the key. Several dips at nada, then one at a dozen fish. Repeat over and over till back gives out.

fishhog1 · 03-09-2004, 07:51 PM

Hear ya freak, hit the Cow last night 36 smelt an hour, it sucked! I guess I will stick to salmon and give up on candlefish for the year. We all know gators can't be kept on Monday Tuesday or Wednesday and those are my days off so what the heck am I doing dipping smelt? And we all know how much gators love shrimp so duh! The fishhog

FishFood · 03-09-2004, 08:18 PM

I was dipping at the Cowlitz today from about 4-5:30. I was 20 ft from a guy who was just slayin' 'em. Probably 15-20 almost every dip. He filled 3 or 4 buckets (Asian guy, had the whole family along).

I'm a complete newbie, and managed to (early on) knock my bucket over, spilling the few fish I had, and while picking them up, my net floated into the river :depressed: :shocked: (I should have charged admission--everyone was laughing--they were very nice and helpful though) The really great dipper retrieved it for me (thank you!) I watched him very carefully seeing exactly how he did it, and soon I was bringing in a few each dip (but nothing like him).

When he and his family left, I took his spot (at about 5 pm). There was a big difference. His spot was probably about 6 ft more out into the river, and using the technique he was, I was quickly bringing in 10-15 every dip.

I got my limit(about 70% of a 5 gallon bucket--I think that's right) and left at 5:30. I was about 2 miles from the Kelso-Longview bridge.

Steve

P.S. It was one of best workouts I've ever had--my hands are still sore.

FishFreak · 03-09-2004, 08:35 PM

I was also on the Cowlitz tonight from about 5:00 to 7:00. first hour was ok second hour was very slow. It took a lot of work to get my bucket full but they're in the freezer and considering I was thinking there wouldn't be any more this year...I'm a happy smelter....
I agree that they were deep.(people wading out almost to their chest) and lots of very little ones...all males I believe....Lets just hope this is just tart of a strong run

Time Off · 03-09-2004, 09:07 PM

Wow, 2 freaks on one thread. FREAKY!

Yup, dat be da deal. Hip wadders will make the difference. Most of the fish are just out of reach from the bank.
(They ain't stupid ya know) [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I watched a guy anchored 10 feet off the bank taking 40-50 fish scoops. Only 2 guys in the boat it looked like they had way more than 2 limits :shocked:

Born to be Wild · 03-09-2004, 09:17 PM

Fish Food,

The other night I was worried about some spilled smelt and then I feel something aroud my leg.
Whoops, there goes my net!
Grabbed it just in time as it was migrating downstream! :grin:
Unfortunately there was no one there to laugh at me but the smelt.

Time Off,

The guys in the boat might have been commercial.
Some of them are not so obvious and have the big boats.

Some of the ifisher's I was in touch did pretty well but had to work for them except the ifisher's that dipped durring the day time.

So much for that "night time factor"!
I'll tell the stories on the thread I started this morning.

Dano

FishFood · 03-09-2004, 09:52 PM

The other night I was worried about some spilled smelt and then I feel something aroud my leg.
Whoops, there goes my net!
Grabbed it just in time as it was migrating downstream! :grin:
Unfortunately there was no one there to laugh at me but the smelt.

Thanks Dano, I feel a bit better :smile:

I have to admit, I was really impressed at how nice and helpful everyone was that was there. I am so green in this freshwater environment, though I know saltwater like the back of my hand (watch out tuna and lingcod!)

I'm sure I will produce more comedy as time goes on, and I appreciate any other ifisher's patience with me and solemnly swear to pass on that patience to new members whom I can help, so help me Neptune.

Steve

fishnbus · 03-09-2004, 09:54 PM

Started checking out how the dipping was going on the Cowlitz about 1pm. First stop was across from Carnival Market, real sloooooww. People getting a few in a couple of hours. Went upriver across from Rocky Point, same thing, more sloooww. River view Park slow. So far I hadn't seen enough success to get wet. Went back downstream past the Carnival and pulled into a wide spot and more slow...except for one lone gentleman dipping in a shady spot. He had a limit and had been dipping for an hour. He gave me his spot and I had limit in 20 dips, maybe took 12 minutes. 7/10 of a mile upriver from the traffic light at Fisher Ln and 1st Ave. I gave my spot to an elderly couple just below me that were struggling to find a few. BAM! First dip and he's hit the motherlode. It's funny, just have to hunt for a fruitful spot and not a fruitful region. It seemed to help being in the shade and not banging the metal hoop of the net against the rocks underwater. These fish seem to get spooked. With the net in the right spot you can feel...doink,doink...the feel of the little critters running into your net. Keep looking and you'll find the spots.

FishFood · 03-09-2004, 10:13 PM

Funny about the shade. I was dipping in a spot with sun, getting maybe two per dip. when I went to a spot in the shade (and also further out in the river), I was getting 10-15. Shade or further out?? don't know.

Freakwater · 03-10-2004, 07:13 AM

When I showed up there were about 15 guys dipping in the same stretch. I low-holed everyone and the guy above me was averaging 1/2 doz. a scoop. He was the only one netting any. After 20 minutes that died off and he split. That was the only real action I saw. After two hours I went home with 13 smelt. Sweet! I'll try again this weekend.

Freak