Cowlitz Smelt Report Thursday 3/11 8:00AM

[Born to be Wild]

There's some smelt back in the river this morning but I didn't get a real good feel for it yet.

Stoped at the Longview-Kelso bridge only and hung out for awhile and the guys were getting them at both points.
Suposedly the guy fishing sturgeon there got a bucket this morning early but he was kind of a bs'er so I don't know for sure.

But it was good to see them being caught again to my surprise because I thought the water was maybe too cold.

I'm going back out (forgot my wading shoes) and see if I can get some for Sore Back in case it get's tough before he gets here at 10:30AM.

Will update in a little while.

Dan

[brshooter]

I haven't been able to get out this week for smelt. Will be fishing for springers on Saturday down around Kalama. Was wondering about running up the Cowlitz and dipping from the boat if they are still around.
I have heard in past years of people doing this. Never had my boat up the Cowlitz. Anything to watch out for in the lower river? Any tips or suggestions? I have a NR with a sportjet.

[love2fish]

Hey Dan, When you leaving for Depoe Bay? I'm going to come up and dip some smelt tomorrow after work. I'll give you a call.

love2fish

[Born to be Wild]

When I got back to the bridges the bite had cooled off.
Fact it got down right slooow.
I hung in there so as to maybe find some smelt for George (Sore Back) to no avail.
Hour and a half 18-24 swimmers. :depressed:

So I went up river a little ways to check out a hole I stopped at a couple days ago and the guy there told me a that it was a hot hole.

The guys there were getting them in spurts but pretty consistant.
Left and went up to Carnival Market and it was slooow.
So I turned around and went back to the spot and it was still happening and two guys just got done and I went down to the spot.

First scoop 20-30 smegma smelts. :smile:
But then it went downhill from there and then it went uphill from there and then...
Smoked 'em!

George called me from the Longview-Raineer bridge at 10:30AM (the guy is like clockwork) and I told him where I was what the van looked like and I was in 'em.
I had a half bucket in no time and by the time George got from the bridge to where I was I was done.

It slowed a tad bit but George got a half bucket from 11:00AM to 11:45.
He was happy but needed to hit the road (long drive, short trip).
I took him to Bob's Toy store :grin: and like anyone else I think he was pretty impressed.

Thanks for the crab George and it was great to finally meet you after exchanges on ifish for a year.

brshooter,

I don't think there is any problems running the lower Cowlitz this time of the year but I can check for you if you'd like.
In the fall when I am catching coho both off the bank and by boat it get's pretty tricky and is easy to park your boat on a sandbar.

Yes some folks do dip out of their boat and sometimes it has it's advantages but normally I have no problem getting them from the bank.
Normally.

Love2Fish,

Het Steve give me a call.
I'm not going to Depoe 'till Monday now because my brother wants me to work the Sports Show at Bob's this weekend so he can have a day off.
Make that 2 days.

GBS,

No guarantees what the smelting will be like tonight but if you want to give it a try I'll save a half bucket for you in case you don't get any or enough.
In appreciation of the tee-shirt you designed for us anti-snaggers.
Fact I never did get one so if you have any left bring one or two up and I'll buy them from you.
I was too involved with my move at the time.

Dano

[MrsSled19]

We are going this weekend thanks for the reports and thanks for takeing your own time to find these things out.

mrssled [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]