Smelt

WP · 01-11-2003, 06:02 AM

Anyone with good news on Cowlitz smelt yet?
Gettin' kind anxious for my first trip!
WP

Pilar · 01-11-2003, 08:08 AM

A friend of mine has been commuting to Chehalis every day for the last week. He detours through Longview just to drive along the river up through Castle Rock. He says there is no effort.

I think they are going to try it tonight. The commercial catch was in the Cow, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Maybe it was a pilot run.

Whalerman · 01-11-2003, 01:16 PM

Dipped for about a hour this morning, near Carnival Market, one or two every 5 or 6 dips, slow! For what its worth, the 46" keeper sturgeon we caught yesterday near Trojan on the Columbia was full of smelt, lots of gulls on the water and seals in abundance.

Sturgeon 42 · 01-13-2003, 06:22 AM

OK are they there yet..... :grin: :grin: :grin:

Sturgeon 42 · 01-13-2003, 10:57 AM

to the top :grin: :grin: :grin:

Killertraylor · 01-13-2003, 12:04 PM

I drove up the cowlitz yesterday morning and there was hardly anyone dipping. I think it's another few weeks off yet for good numbers of fish. If you can wait a month you probably won't even have to get your boots wet to dip a limit!

Sturgeon Tom · 01-13-2003, 08:17 PM

There is smelt in the Cowletz now. A friend of mine went last night and got his limit in 20 minutes.
st

fish_on · 01-13-2003, 09:10 PM

what days are dipping allowed at this time?

Fast Water · 01-13-2003, 09:37 PM

From the SW Washington Hotline:

Smelt

Effective January 1 through March 31, open to fishing for smelt in the mainstem Columbia and Washington Columbia River tributaries. The mainstem Columbia will be open 7 days/week, 24 hours/day. Tributaries will be open 7 days/week between 6 AM and 10 PM each day. Daily limit is 10 pounds. No license is required.

A few smelt have been reported in the Cowlitz River. Commercials were catching some fish from the Kelso Railroad Bridge upstream to Rocky Point.

brshooter · 01-13-2003, 11:18 PM

They got to be close. Fished sturgeon yesterday at KP. Some of the shakers we caught had fresh smelt poking out of their mouths. There stomachs looked packed. By the way they are eating, I would think there are a bunch of them in the river.

Pilar · 01-14-2003, 09:48 AM

Sturgeon Tom, where? I heard the Pilot run was all the way up to Castle Rock and some were getting netted there.

The lower river was dead this weekend.

MasterCaster · 01-14-2003, 12:47 PM

Oregon regs..page 86..Columbia River Zone....smelt 25 pounds per day..an angling license in not required.....separate container for each person.....25 pounds per dipper while in the dipping area....open all year.

Does this mean if you dip in the main stem Columbia that if you come ashore in Oregon its ok for 25 pounds but if you come ashore in Washington you can only have 10 pounds since no license is required?

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[ 01-14-2003, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: MasterCaster ]

Hagen · 01-14-2003, 08:10 PM

That is what I would interpret the regulations as. If you launch and return to oregon you are following OR regs. Same from WA. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Bill Monroe · 01-14-2003, 11:27 PM

I called Bob's. They said there are 5-6 fish per dip for folks working above Longview after dark, when smelt tend to come closer to the bank.

Please, everyone, lemme know when the run gets there so we can send up a shooter (photographer, that is) and get the word out...thanks much...no, I won't give away the secret rock...

Miss B Haven · 01-14-2003, 11:36 PM

10 lbs? I thought they let you get one 5 gallon bucket full. You gotta take scales with ya? :whazzup: [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

What kind of license does an OR resident need to dip smelt in WA. One of those (used to be $3 for a day) food fish license?

fishuntr2 · 01-14-2003, 11:41 PM

I thought the mainstem Columbia Oregon limit was 25 lbs.
Bob

Hagen · 01-14-2003, 11:53 PM

Here is the regs from the WA fish and game book.

Actions: Columbia River and tributary smelt fishery opens January 1, 2003.

Effective Date: January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2003.
Mainstem Columbia is open 7 days/week and 24 hours per day.
Washington tributaries are open 7 days/week during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Species affected: Smelt

Location: Columbia River and tributaries below Bonneville Dam.

Reason for action: The smelt fishery regulations are consistent with Level 3 fisheries in the "Washington and Oregon Eulachon Management Plan" for the Columbia River. Improved ocean conditions are expected to benefit smelt returns, and abundance in 2003 is expected to be strong.

Other information: No license is required. Daily limit is 10 pounds per person (about 1/3 of a 5-gallon bucket). Please remember to respect private property

Hope this helps.

Sturgeon 42 · 01-15-2003, 09:31 AM

Are they thick yet....rumor is they are there..? True?...... :grin: :grin: :grin:

BottomFeeder · 01-15-2003, 02:16 PM

Anyone go dipping today/last night in the Cow?

MasterCaster · 01-15-2003, 02:22 PM

I dont know how the normal dipping is but the commercial guys must be doing ok. They have fresh smelt <not surf smelt> at IGA in Salem. Pretty good looking fish too.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

Miss B Haven · 01-15-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MasterCaster:

Does this mean if you dip in the main stem Columbia that if you come ashore in Oregon its ok for 25 pounds but if you come ashore in Washington you can only have 10 pounds since no license is required?
Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">The regs state very clearly that you must follow the regs of the States water you are fishing in at the time (doesn't matter where your from or going). You can fish the boundary waters of the Columbia (but not Sloughs/backwaters) with a license from either State and launch and land in either state. This smelt thing is a lot like the delta in the crab regs.

I would say that you could/would get a ticket by WA if you are on their side of the state line and have over 10 lbs of smelt. :depressed:
Technically you should be able to launch in WA (with either license) and dip in OR and keep 25 lbs. Personally I would not test that theory.
[img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

[ 01-15-2003, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Pitch Pocket · 01-15-2003, 02:47 PM

I've gotten conflicting reports from different WDFW agents I've talked to, but I believe that in order for reciprocity to apply, you have to have the same regulations in both states, like salmon.

In that Washington is limiting an individulals take to only 10 lbs, I'm pretty sure that if you show up on a Washington dock with 25 lbs of smelt you'd get a ticket if checked.

fishnxtc · 01-15-2003, 03:27 PM

Two years ago, I launched at rainer and took my boat with 3 other friends to the mouth of the cowlitz and dipped 100 pounds of smelt. Totally legal. The mouth of the cowlitz is considered part of the Columbia until to get to the markers. Went last year and tried to do it again and did not get one smelt..............Chris

steelheadslayer · 01-15-2003, 04:52 PM

A friend of mine's kid went last night and got a bunch of smelt in very few dips. That was LAST night. I don't know what's going on now but the seals and sealions are in thick.

Fast Water · 01-15-2003, 07:44 PM

Went out for a couple test dips in the NFL tonight. Nothing at the Island ramp. Went down to the ramp at the bottoms (below the forks) saw a few but not in numbers. Nothing worth dipping.

Plenty of seagulls and a few seals earlier in the day in the lower Lewis. Talked to a couple guys who said that said that they saw a nice size school around the forks but nothing consistant.

I would say later this week for sure.

:smile:

Twoshottom · 01-15-2003, 07:58 PM

Just got back from Riverside Park in Lexington. Two of us dipped 60 smelt in about 45 minutes to an hour. 0 to 4 per dip. Mostly 0 to 1. OK lots of zero's. Lot of work but I've got fresh bait for the weekend. :grin: Had to do some moving until we found a little deeper water.

fish_on · 01-15-2003, 08:17 PM

Must not have been in the right spot. We just got back nuff said. :grin:

[ 01-15-2003, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: fish_on ]

Sturgeon 42 · 01-16-2003, 06:40 AM

People are saying they are seeing schools of smelt at the mouth of the Willamette, are these fish going to the Sandy or just missed the Cowlitz?........ :grin: :grin: :grin:

BottomFeeder · 01-16-2003, 08:41 AM

I thought Smelt broadcast spawn in the Columbia bigtime? They're not necessarily heading to any tributary.

-BottomFeeder

Sturgeon 42 · 01-16-2003, 12:45 PM

to the top

live to fish · 01-19-2003, 06:25 PM

to the top

wet-net-32 · 01-19-2003, 06:43 PM

I took my 2 yr old son & his gramma [mom] up to castle rock area today too "do smelt dip-dip" as he is saying :grin: its too cute! there was nothing going on smelt wise, no pressure, birds etc. Tyler had fun throwing rocks and gramma got boot sucked trying her hand at net swinging. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

My 2 cent report.

WN.

fishinnut30 · 01-19-2003, 07:06 PM

Wet-net, Just a helpfull hint The run that is in the Cowlitz right know is only a small pilot run. For the last three nights I have talked to lot's of people dipping for hours and not getting any smelt :depressed: Here's the trick, don't start dipping until after dark and you are dipping to far up river. The last same three day's we have dipped between 25 and 60 pounds of smelt in less than an hour

The little town of Lexington is the place to be, strait across the street from the trailer park. Just walk up over the rock dike

Good luck
Rich

wet-net-32 · 01-19-2003, 07:20 PM

Thank you fishinnut,

That is very helpful. Today was my 1st try at it. I will try the night thing next. Lower in the river too.

A pound per swoop sound right? :grin:

WN

tipndwater · 01-20-2003, 01:38 AM

when your dipping in the lower cowlitz river, watch the tide and catch it while it is going out. this will give you the current you want to get them little rascals over next to the bank!
the hot spot is aways up river (not tide enfluenced)around the carnival market area. but when they get in there will be no problem getting your limit in the lower river!
good luck
tipndwater :grin:

Sturgeon 42 · 01-20-2003, 10:46 AM

Where is Lexington or Carnival Market area... Thanx, I,m going up tonight..... :grin: :grin: :grin:

glowball · 01-20-2003, 12:22 PM

Lexington is just north of longview/kelso. You can get there by taking the mall exit and following it until you go over the cowlitz bridge once you're on the west side head north along the river. There will be a lot of spots to pullover and give it a try along the river.
glow

Sturgeon 42 · 01-20-2003, 12:30 PM

Thanks but now you need to post a Story.....Tell em guys and gals.... :grin: :grin: :grin:

MasterCaster · 01-20-2003, 01:46 PM

looks like Sturgeon 42 tagged a newbie on the way down the dock! Well how bout it llabwolg Im sure you have a great story in there somewhere! Welcome to Ifish.net its a great place!

Now out with the story before you get the dreaded skunk on your line! :grin:

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

Cohodependent · 01-21-2003, 10:26 AM

I have a patient who is a Judge and he says that if you are on the Washington side of the river you MUST adhere to the Washington regs if they are not the same as the Oregon regs.