Smelt Any News

[Trapper John]

Has anybody heard anything if there is going to be  a season for them yet?
JC

[HntnFsh]

Opening it up the 25th for 1 day. I didn't see any sign of smelt Saturday though.

[nontypical176]

The Columbia is loaded with fish.  My parents been watching huge schools of birds and sea lions for the last week down by cathlamet.  Seems like the cold water pushed the fish back out into the ocean for a while but they are heading for some smaller river any time.   Hope they hit the cowlitz hard.   My property is on Cowlitz gardens rd in north Kelso.  I own the most northern lot on that rd which is the corner called Rocky point.   My property is cotton woods and has a shed.   All members here are welcome to come give it a shot, I'll be there all day monitoring chaos.   If I know your from this site I can let you park down on my property, I keep it off limits to other vehicles, just make them park on the road.   My property has traditionally been a hot spot and everyone limited last time.   I let all comers fish there respectfully, just limit parking on my property to friends, neighbors and I suppose if members from here can get my attention or figure out witch goon I am, I will let them have access to prized parking spots also.   Really the big limiting factor for my fishing spot....parking.   Good luck Fishers!

[HntnFsh]

I know exactly where your talking about. Very generous offer!

[Blacklab]

I know exactly where your talking about. Very generous offer!

 

[shadowless_nite]

The Columbia is loaded with fish.  My parents been watching huge schools of birds and sea lions for the last week down by cathlamet.  Seems like the cold water pushed the fish back out into the ocean for a while but they are heading for some smaller river any time.   Hope they hit the cowlitz hard.   My property is on Cowlitz gardens rd in north Kelso.  I own the most northern lot on that rd which is the corner called Rocky point.   My property is cotton woods and has a shed.   All members here are welcome to come give it a shot, I'll be there all day monitoring chaos.   If I know your from this site I can let you park down on my property, I keep it off limits to other vehicles, just make them park on the road.   My property has traditionally been a hot spot and everyone limited last time.   I let all comers fish there respectfully, just limit parking on my property to friends, neighbors and I suppose if members from here can get my attention or figure out witch goon I am, I will let them have access to prized parking spots also.   Really the big limiting factor for my fishing spot....parking.   Good luck Fishers!

Pm inbound!!!!

[Jason]

One-day smelt fishery set to open
on Cowlitz River


VANCOUVER, Wash. – State fishery managers approved a limited sport fishery for smelt on the Cowlitz River for Saturday, Feb. 25.
Under this year's rules, a portion of the Cowlitz River will be open to recreational dip netting along the shore from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. for one day only.
The area open to sport dipping stretches from the Highway 432 Bridge upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, located approximately 1,300 feet upstream from the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock.
Each dip-netter may retain 10 pounds of smelt per day, with no more than one day's limit in possession. Ten pounds is about a quarter of a five-gallon bucket. No fishing license is required to dip for smelt in Washington state.
This marks the fourth year that the state has allowed smelt fishing since 2010, when the species – also known as eulachon – was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) along the Pacific Coast.
NOAA Fisheries, which oversees ESA-listed stocks, supports limited fisheries that contribute to research, said Cindy Le Fleur, regional fish program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"We're expecting a modest return of about 3 million pounds of smelt to the Columbia River this year," Le Fleur said. "That compares to an estimated 16.6 million pounds in 2014, when the run reached its recent peak."
The sport fishery was also limited to one day in 2016, when the run was estimated at 5.1 million pounds. Le Fleur said these fisheries have a limited impact on the overall smelt return, while providing biological data on the species' abundance.
Le Fleur said WDFW announced the decision to open this year's sport fishery after tracking catch rates in the ongoing commercial test fishery in the mainstem Columbia River. Managers were looking for weekly average landings to reach at least 150 pounds per fisher to feel confident that the run was likely as large as anticipated pre-season she said, noting that last week's landings averaged 281 pounds per fisher.

[Firedogg]

5 hrs to get about 1.25 gallons of smelt. Miss the old days when that was only the first dip net full.

[nontypical176]

   My property is wet and 4 wheel drives would be best.  Undeveloped land that's just river spoils but it's pretty solid.   I should have a net or 2 for people to borrow.  And what makes me happiest is when people bring the kids because stuff like this is important.  I don't have a mail box but the address is 191 Cowlitz gardens rd.  Property has 2 entrances, one will be blocked by cars looking for parking the other will just be road baracades that can be moved to let people down at the southern (down stream) end of my parcel.   Second drive kinda hidden but will have a couple fold up style road signs.  Little bit of a drop off, so no low riders. 

[Ripper]

What a great offer, my hat is off to you sir. Parking on your property and a dip net!    I've never gone smelt dipping here but I wish I could Come down for a few hours. If they have another opening and your offer still stands, I just may show up. Kudo's to you.

[WAPatriot]

Ripper I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think there's a good chance that this Saturday will be the last chance you get to dip for many years to come. Hope I'm wrong tho.

[Ghost Hunter]

Great offer.    PM sent.  Would love to bring the grandkids, but parents picked this week to take them to the beach.

[tritt007]

This is exciting ! Love smelting .

[Lucky1]

Dipping should be good. Lots of gulls, sea lions and seals in the river.

[nontypical176]

Yep. Was there this evening.  Lots of lions working by my place   I'm going to clear some brush tomorrow to help the nets.  Water is hi so the dipping might be difficult due to steep river banks.  Be careful and bring a long pole.