Cowlitz Steelhead?

[87Ford]

It's not just the Cowlitz.  A buddy that is new to the area keeps talking about getting a driftboat and how great the fishing is here.  He keeps asking why I don't have any kind of boat (anymore) since I've been here forever.  Doesn't believe about the then and now, and I must be too much a pessimist.  WDFW will show him.......

It's barely a remnant of what it used to be..  Especially  in the Puget Sound rivers.  Didn't even buy a fishing license last year.  It's pretty much over.  Glad I got to experience the 90's.  Here's a couple of updates on what's left of Puget sound steelheading..

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2259

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2260

[MADMAX]

Truly a shame, used to be a great weekend of fishing and fun.

[boneaddict]

I chalk it up to another thing Im glad I got to experience when I was younger.   Something else the WDFW and this state helped to ruin.   

[Taco280AI]

Unfortunately I've given up on WA fishing, has been terrible the last few years

[2MANY]

The limit 3??
Lol.
I remember summers the limit was 6!!!!!!!
Fished the Cow from 75' till a couple years ago.
Epic to pathetic to nothing.
Unbelievable.

[Bullkllr]

  Aaahh the memories.

When my dad and brothers first brought me to Blue Creek, you could drive down to the creek itself, then cross on a couple car bodies that were sunk in the creek. There were more steelhead on the bank than people.

Never thought we'd see what it is now. It's decisions like this (killing the early run) that really make a guy wonder if the WDFW evens wants us fishing at all. Even the "spillover" from all of the displaced guides/other fishermen has had a huge and continuing impact on the few places that remain viable. They had to see all this happening...

[BigGoonTuna]

The limit 3??
Lol.
I remember summers the limit was 6!!!!!!!
Fished the Cow from 75' till a couple years ago.
Epic to pathetic to nothing.
Unbelievable.

the only years i remember the limit being 6 was somewhere around 07-09 thereabouts.   i've only been fishing it since 1990 though... the november '06 highwater blasted the river out so bad that it didn't have good color again until september of '07.  completely ruined the area down below mary ellen.  remember the guides starting to tie up whole stretches of river with diver set ups, especially when the crack pipe was put in(but before it was off limits to other than "disabled" people).

[Screaminreelz]

So no ones been fishing then? 
Cool thanks everyone for the reports of the glory days. There's fish you just gotta put your time in.

[HntnFsh]

Nice fish!

[Alchase]

Beauty!

[fowl smacker]

Congrats!  Not worth my time. 

[hike2hunt]

Nice Fish. Bank or Boat?

[Screaminreelz]

I only bank fish, dont have the luxury of a boat. Maybe someday.