Cowlitz smelt season?

[3boys]

I made it to the opener today. 1 dip and I had 2 limits. Not crowded where I was at

Curious.  Did they count and sex them?

We were only there 5 minutes. Saw a F an G boat cruise up the river. I have smelted many years and never seen them so thick. I suspect they will have another opener. The pic gives away my super secret spot.

[ctwiggs1]

How do you guys cook em? Always been interested in this one but I’ve never done it

[3boys]

How do you guys cook em? Always been interested in this one but I’ve never done it

I clean them with scissors and a quick rinse. I will pan fry them and smoke bunch for snacks. They have a real clean taste. Just got off the slime line. Glad the limit is only 10#s!

[ctwiggs1]

How do you guys cook em? Always been interested in this one but I’ve never done it

I clean them with scissors and a quick rinse. I will pan fry them and smoke bunch for snacks. They have a real clean taste. Just got off the slime line. Glad the limit is only 10#s!

Ok, definitely going to have to give it a go next time!

[Parasite]

All my smelt today we're males. What's that all about?

[Angry Perch]

Are those average size? They look big.

[3boys]

Are those average size? They look big.

They were jumbo size. Largest I have ever gotten.

[CastleRocker]

All my smelt today we're males. What's that all about?

Normally, the "pilot run" that comes through first, are all big males.  The pilot run came through about a month ago, so I don't know why these are big males.  I had to work, so no dipping.   I did talk to some Indians on my way home around 5 o'clock, that were still filling fish totes in the back of their truck, to see if they'd sell me some. 

[2MANY]

"All my smelt today we're males."

Welcome to Washington.

[HntnFsh]

Too bad about the all the males. Those big ripe females are great for sucking the eggs out of. Looks like oatmeal, but way better flavor!

[HntnFsh]

I dont think the spawning beds are anywhere close to pre eruption conditions. Everything below the mouth of he Toutle has been covered in sediment since the eruption. Look into interception rates in northern prawn fisheries and the amount of smelt bycatch they get and I think you will see a large part of the problem.

If It was because of the spawning beds why have we had years where there were absolutely massive runs of smelt only to be followed by years of no smelt. All since the eruption of mount St. Helens. With the sediment dam on the Toutle I dont think the Cowlitz will ever flush out the sediment. Thats part of the reason there is talk of dredging it again.

[pnwbestlife]

Hoping this isn't against the rules or anything, but I made a video of my smelt dipping adventure as a first time, never smelt dipped, had no idea what I was doing thing!

Enjoy!