Cowlitz river plunking

[PointBlank]

Any reports on plunking steelhead on the cowlitz? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thinking of running up and trying in the next couple days and not sure if people are getting any… seems about the right time for the run to start showing up. Will give a report after and will also keep my eyes open for any signs of smelt. Thanks  in advance

[Encore 280]

I heard yesterday that the smelt are in along with plenty of sea lions.

[HntnFsh]

I heard yesterday that the smelt are in along with plenty of sea lions.

Didn't see any sign of them in the lower yesterday.

[supagoose]

I've been down to the Cowlitz a couple times it's been really slow. I haven't caught anything. I've heard there's a few that are caught here and there down at Blue Creek but nothing above that. I stopped at the dam last week on my way out and there was no one fishing there. I talked to a hatchery staff and he said they're looking at shutting the season down and the springer season also because the forecast doesn't look good.

[metlhead]

Odd. Peak of steelhead run at the hatchery aligns either side of 10 April. The numbers already showing seem high for this early.

[steeleywhopper]

Fished Sunday and whacked 2, four rods in the boat.

[BigGoonTuna]

Odd. Peak of steelhead run at the hatchery aligns either side of 10 April. The numbers already showing seem high for this early.

it sounds promising from what I’ve seen, and of course my boat needs a bunch of work to get back on the water again

The last 10 years or so it seems like I’ve waited for fishing to get good for the “late” steelhead, only to have the run peter out before they show in good numbers. Going from the old early chambers stock to what they have now was a downgrade…

[Smokeploe]

The hatchery killed the winter run 5 years ago.  They posted last week there was only 44 winter fish at the hatchery.

Smokeploe

[2MANY]

Tacoma Power sucks.
They sold a dam to the people, flooded their homesteads, and then found a way to weasel out of their fish mitigation responsibilities.
Just sayin'.

[metlhead]

Run will never be what I enjoyed in the '70s and '80s. So with it being the only game in town, 44 fish for the last week in January' sounds promising. One more duck hunt this weekend coming up, then the boat gets cleaned up and rerigged for fishing.

[Smokeploe]

They signed a contract to do certain things and they are not doing what they promised per contract.  All it takes is to sue them for non-performance, a lot of money!  Start pressuring fish and game and hound and harass state and local politicians till they start doing what they contracted to do.

Smokeploe

Ps where are the groups who are suppose to watch and make sure all these thing the hatcheries owners are supposed to do, were they paid off to look the other way?

[2MANY]

They found a loophole in the ESA with wild fish.
Complete bunch of crap.
I say rip the dams out.

[2MANY]

Oh the 70's and 80's were soooo good.

[metlhead]

I grew up in one of first wooden sleds to ply the Cowlitz. Dad was buddies with some of the big name guides and others from the local Steelheaders.

[2MANY]

Ah yes.
Anchored against the clay banks.
Pearl corkies and glow balls.
Andy and Agnus Anderson?
Roger Smith?
Kelly?
Rich and Sonny?
Corkie?
Grew up on the Cowlitz mid 70's forward.
Fishing the Toutle out of a sled.
Upper Nisqually right below the dam.
Oh the good old days..