The smelt are coming!!!!

[WSU]

I've never done it but may give it a go this year.

[TONTO]

About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.

It is also illegal to sort/throw back any smelt that is caught prior to obtaining your limit. You'll sometimes see people throwing back females or smaller smelt. Just like razor clams, you must keep all of your smelt regardless of size/sex.

 First I have ever heard of that. What if the fish are sorted in the net and never leave the water? If the native fish society peeps can molest native steel with a fly, why can't I release smelt? Last year on the last dipping day I did just that, I already had enough bait and fried my fill, so on the last day I sorted them in the net and only the large males went in the bucket. Made for a couple nice smoker loads.

[Pete112288]

I remember doing this as a kid once with my uncle on the Lewis. I think it was the last year it was open on the lewis. Right there in Woodland. That year across by the boat launch by the bridge in woodland commercial guys had totes and totes and totes full. It just blew my mind haha.

[cohoho]

Smelt = Sturgeon for me!

[pd]

Smelt are delicious.  Tagged.

[washelkhunter]

Dip nets will be for sale at the PNW Sportsmans show next week.

[TheHunt]

How much for a net?

[fishnfur]

Looking like it's going to be a great year.  I've lived in Longview for 9 years and never seen so many seals and sea lions in the Lower Columbia.  I've seen literally hundreds of these animals in the past week, singles and groups up to 20 or so working the schools of smelt in the big river near the county line of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties.  Lines of cars pull off to watch the action.  Pretty cool to watch, but not so good for the salmon soon to follow. 

Time to loose those laws protecting those animals, which are no longer hunted and clearly not endangered.  I'm just sayin'......

[bigtex]

About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.

It is also illegal to sort/throw back any smelt that is caught prior to obtaining your limit. You'll sometimes see people throwing back females or smaller smelt. Just like razor clams, you must keep all of your smelt regardless of size/sex.

First I have ever heard of that. What if the fish are sorted in the net and never leave the water? If the native fish society peeps can molest native steel with a fly, why can't I release smelt? Last year on the last dipping day I did just that, I already had enough bait and fried my fill, so on the last day I sorted them in the net and only the large males went in the bucket. Made for a couple nice smoker loads.

No sorting at all.

[columbiaman]

When the smelt are in, go to the Cowlitz about anywhere between Longview and Castle Rock. There will be tons of vehicles. Probably somebody that would let you borrow their net too. But if not Bobs may have them for sale. I would guess around $30. Aluminum telescoping handle. I think they are about 12' long. But last year I just used 1 section as the smelt were following the bank. Just a solid black stream of them. Start upstream and sweep your net downstream right through the travel lane. At the end of your sweep twist your net handle a 1/4 turn so that the opening is up. Pull it back to the bank. Grab the net of smelt from the bottom. Twist your handle so the opening is facing your bucket. Dump the hand full of smelt in the bucket. Do it all over again until you have your limit. Last year it was 1 dip and you usually had too many smelt. If they aren't in thick you may have to figure out where that lane is. Either by watching others or trial and error. Different depths and distances from the bank. You will usually feel them hitting the end of your net. On your downstream sweep make mental note of where your hitting sticks and rocks so you can try to avoid getting hung up. If your too forceful then you may tear your net. About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.
Good Luck all.
HntnFsh

great advice

[Jamieb]

I hope we do as well as last year. Smoked smelt sounds good.

[pd]

If I can I would like to go out this coming Saturday (I know, St. Valentine's Day...).

Did anybody here get out on the Cowlitz this weekend?  How was it?  A lot of traffic?  Please post a report.

[WSU]

I went.  Lots of traffic and lots of smelt.  We got our limits (2) with a borrowed net in about 3 minutes. 

I fried some up last night.  They tasted fine but I could get the meat firm to save my life.  Am I doing it wrong or is fried smelt just not firm?

[Encore 280]

Ours wouldn't firm up either. My wife was pretty disappointed in them cuz they weren't like the ones ya get off the beaches but I still like em! Smoked a batch up yesterday so today I'll be crack'n a beer with smoked smelt.

[duckmen1]

Ours fried were not firm either. But tasted fine. Are smoked smelt a lot firmer.?I would assume so.