2016 smelt dipping

[Jason]

We were lucky and got the same honey hole as last year  at 6:50am we were ready to go, 7:00am and the net was in the water filled the first limit in 3 dips in about 4min, started getting lighter out and the smelt starting going deeper, then we were netting them right on the bottom, 2 more limits took about 30min. We could have had five limits but didn't need them as we still have smelt in the freezer from last year. Lots of big males and few females.

[danderson]

  I wish I was closer to the smelt dipping action down there, I would be willing to trade someone out of a few pounds of them if there coming over to the cle elum area in the near future, pm me for details.

[nontypical176]

Dipping has been good.  I hung out at my property to keep people from destroying stuff.   I let them dip on my place just got to keep people from driving across my yard.    Game warden showed up, I met him on my driveway coming down. "Told him people were down there having a good time and nobody was over the limit so I didn't need him on my property.   He blew by me like I wasn't there said if people are dipping your property he can be there all he wants."   Nobody was illegal, no tickets.   I've got personal reasons for not liking the Washington wardens, have never got a wildlife infraction and was a little disappointed that he had full trespass rights if I be a nice guy and let people fish my property.    Took his time leaving fully examining my personal truck on my private property.   I like being the nice guy letting people use my place but that might change because I can't hardly stand to look at the Washington wardens after how they treated my family.   


Anyhow..had people from Canada, Seattle, Eugene and even a guy from Montana stop by for some dipping.     Kids everywhere....threw out a life jacket in case of emergency.   Lots of Russians and Asians.   It has been a good time.    Seen a guy dip 8 limits with a swimming pool cleaner.  Lmao

[nontypical176]

DoYourTime I tried to message you.    You need to empty your mailbox it's full.   Sorry I couldn't call by phone.     There were a lot more fish in the river than I suspected.   No birds hardly or sea lions up there means there's a big slug of fish still sitting in the Columbia.   Hopefully they give us another day.    It was my first year at this property and wasn't sure what to expect.   But next time they open it I will make it easier for anybody on here that's wants to stop by.  I was able to control traffic enough to get friends in and out my driveway.   and it's not like my place is that great but everyone limited out and surprisingly with 15 minutes to go only one person was still dipping.   

There was a couple times I looked around my place and thought I was in a foreign country.    2 different groups of Samoans came down for dipping    I didn't realize how much the fisheries ment to them.  Both groups told other people to be respectful to the properties to keep access and fishing spots open.   They chewed on an China man for chopping on my trees and they didn't even know it was my property.   Them Samoans are big too, when they were telling the Asians and Russians to be respectful they all listened.   A guy from Lithuania shows up in a business suit, his boy and a bucket.   I dipped him the limit and he tried handing me $20.   I denied the money told him fishing on my place is always free if you bring a kid with you.   People had a good time and that's what it's all about.    If they do another opener you guys are welcome to swing by my place if every where's else is packed.

[lokidog]

Great offer, wish I was closer, maybe if they open it again....

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

[shadowless_nite]

Damn, I totally spaced this was going on!!! Didn't keep up with th fishing threads. I need to try and make it down there, I'm sure me and my wife and kids would have a blast. And my parents would greatly appreciate it. Reminds me of growing up in southern California and picking up grunion on the beach when they would spawn. Where can I find out the dates it's open to dip? This would be my first time trying to ever do this so any tips on a kid friendly location would be great. My 9yr old daughter has good footing but my 5yr old boy likes to get distracted lol.



Edit: just found the link in this thread, I guess today was the only day??? Am I wrong?? Will they maybe announce more dates?

[Jason]

Damn, I totally spaced this was going on!!! Didn't keep up with th fishing threads. I need to try and make it down there, I'm sure me and my wife and kids would have a blast. And my parents would greatly appreciate it. Reminds me of growing up in southern California and picking up grunion on the beach when they would spawn. Where can I find out the dates it's open to dip? This would be my first time trying to ever do this so any tips on a kid friendly location would be great. My 9yr old daughter has good footing but my 5yr old boy likes to get distracted lol.

Keep an eye on the home page of the WDFW website, they will announce if they open it again.

[shadowless_nite]

Damn, I totally spaced this was going on!!! Didn't keep up with th fishing threads. I need to try and make it down there, I'm sure me and my wife and kids would have a blast. And my parents would greatly appreciate it. Reminds me of growing up in southern California and picking up grunion on the beach when they would spawn. Where can I find out the dates it's open to dip? This would be my first time trying to ever do this so any tips on a kid friendly location would be great. My 9yr old daughter has good footing but my 5yr old boy likes to get distracted lol.

Keep an eye on the home page of the WDFW website, they will announce if they open it again.

Man this is kinda up setting, mainly because I woke up early to drive 30min to the nearest lexus dealer to get some new keys programmed and water spots cleaned off our windshield for our new car we bought, they ended up scratching the crap out of my front windshield inside and out like they used a dirty rag. Then me and my wife went home and took a nap when we got home. All that drive time and time wasted. Then the windshield! And I could've been happy with a bucket full of smelt instead and now we may not be able to get the chance to try out smelt dipping!!!

[Utah]

My dog loves smelt.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Great morning on the river 7 for 7 limits this morning. Took about an hour to get them all dipped. So a little low. When we cleaned them about half the females and half the males had neither sperm or eggs yet. Never seen that before. I tend to think we caught the early part of the pilot run. Males were gigantic! I am expecting they will have another dip next weekend. And if they do, I am betting it will be limits in one dip.

[HntnFsh]

Stopped by Castle Rock on the way home from a Dr. apt today. Even in the bright sun the smelt were swimming right along the bank. Not as thick as when I saw them last Friday evening. But pretty good with all being considered.

[doyourtime89]

Come on smelt, we need another day opened for dipping!!!!!    I hoping they announce that they are going to open it again for this coming Saturday.

[Encore 280]

Read on another forum that WDFW cited 200 individuals for over limits which came to 3500lbs!

[Bow tech hunter]

Any word yet on another dip yet

[doyourtime89]

Not that I have seen, but still hoping.