Are the smelt running yet?

[longstevo]

Damnit!

Of course they're in when I can't make it!

 

[762Armo]

How big is the average smelt?
Also, anybody willing to share a spot? I've never been down to the Cowlitz river.

[TheHunt]

Was everyone down by Castle Rock?

[ICEMAN]

2014 recreational smelt season set in the Cowlitz River

Action: Opens smelt fishing in the Cowlitz River.

Species affected: Eulachon smelt.

Effective dates: Open Saturdays only from Feb. 8 through March 1 (4 days). Open hours: 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (noon) (6-hour periods).

Location: Cowlitz River (bank only).

Daily Limit: 10-pound daily limit. Possession limit is equal to one daily limit.

Gear: Dip net.

Reason for action: The regulations are consistent with a reduced Level One fishery as described in the "Washington and Oregon Eulachon Management Plan" for the Columbia River. Returns of eulachon to the Columbia River have improved since 2011, with a very large return in 2013. The minimal fishing season adopted is expected to harvest less than 1% of the total run size forecasted for 2014. The fishery serves as an important test fishery to monitor run strength and timing and to collect biological data.

Information contact: Region 5 Office (360) 696-6211

[metlhead]

No definitive answer to another opening, but the bio that checked us from wdfw said one is a possibility and may be considered. If so, lets not get greedy fellas. Let these eulachon regroup. Ten pounds will last me quite a while as gator bait.

[Dhoey07]

So since this was really the first day that the fish were in the Cowlitz on an open day. Anybody think there will be an extension?? 

Doubt it. This opening was for the commercial guys, it was never about the sportys 

[ICEMAN]

Ok, who else went?

At 630am on Saturday we limited 5 dippers out in 5 minutes. No kidding. The smelt were thick, right at the edge of the river about 1-2 feet deep. Some nets came out full in one pass. Awesome.

On the down side of things, my back is killing me! I spent hours at the sink last night cleaning all 50lbs of them. We ate them for brkfst this morning. Put the hens away for bait (This should make Cohoho happy), put some aside to smoke, froze a bunch for later meals, have some portioned to share with a few coworkers, and have even more raw in the fridge for more meals.

Anyone have a smelt pickling recipe?

Damn fun day yesterday! Kids had a blast. Over way too soon!!!

[billythekidrock]

Wish I would have gone and taken my son so he can see what it is all about. But instead we ground about 225 lbs of burger.

[ICEMAN]

Wow, you were busy.

Yeah, if it opens again this weekend, I am all over it again. Can't pass it up. Lost of guys heading into Bobs Sporting goods in Longview buying smelt nets...

[billythekidrock]

Wow, you were busy.

Yeah, if it opens again this weekend, I am all over it again. Can't pass it up. Lost of guys heading into Bobs Sporting goods in Longview buying smelt nets...

It actually went real quick. We had three ladies wrapping and 4 guys mixing and grinding.

[TONTO]

 I've had some thick apple smoke rolling out of the "Big Chief"  for about two hours now Got my limit in one big dip. Kept the net in the water and kicked out the females, just big smoker males this time. I figure if the native Fish Society can catch and release wild steel after they get the hatcheries closed down, I should be able to net and release ESA listed eulachon, long as I keep the natives I intend to release in the water.

[ICEMAN]

The ratio was pretty good with the males, probably 3/4 of ours were males...

[TheHunt]

I did the family thing this weekend.  I should have went down early in the morning and left with fish. 

I do not think they will extend another Saturday. But if they do I will be heading down.

[Slimdog350]

I was working Saturday and every time I turned around someone was getting pulled over by a gamie. I heard from some co workers that were dipping up in castle rock that said they saw several Asian and Russian people dipping loads of smelt. He said the gamie caught them and wrote several tickets. He said one guy was trying to give the " I didn't know" excuse.

[bigjohn98591]

My brother B.I.L. and a couple of friends went Sat morning, he took my two oldest daughters. They all limited out and they were dipping at the boat launch in Toledo. My dad went later in the morning and limited out at Masseys Bar boat launch. I've lived in Toledo most all my life and have never seen the smelt much past Castle Rock. A friend of My dads who grew up in Toledo also Said that when he was really young was the last time that the smelt were that far up river, he figured about 60 years. it was cool, except that the lock pin on my net broke and the handel seperated and I lost my net.