Smelt

[Ghost Hunter]

Looks like they are going to throw us a bone.  5 hours of smelt dipping Thursday 8 to 1:00.

[3boys]

Of course it’s on a weekday. I hope to find an excuse to go. Last time it was open my spot was one dip and done.

[Ghost Hunter]

Truck is in the shop and can't borrow the wife's car, so might set this one out.  Still got last dips limit in  the freezer, and seasoned for bate.  I'd have to smoke them.

[2MANY]

Took my wife smelt dipping once.
We both got tickets.
Lol

[tritt007]

Crock like always , on a work day last minute . Screw the working man . Good luck to everyone who goes i hope the smelt are plentiful !

[metlhead]

Workin man gotta stay workin. Support those that need it. With so little sturgeon fishing anymore, my bait stash just may last forever.

[2MANY]

True dat.
Anchovies are better anyway.

[Ghost Hunter]

Just got asked if I would help chaperone a bunch of 9 -12 years old for an outing.  Anyone know a safe spot?  I'm seeing nothing but red flags.

[metlhead]

Camelot. Lots of room

[Jason]

Camelot. Lots of room

Packed already, lots of campers. 

[metlhead]

Fun. I was not aware you could camp down below Camelot.

[Jason]

Fun. I was not aware you could camp down below Camelot.

I guess my sarcasm didn't come through. I don't think you can camp there, but I would get there hours early to beat the others.

[Skyvalhunter]

You can always camp at Jason's house

[Jason]

You can always camp at Jason's house

[CastleRocker]

The campers and trucks were parked in their "spots" at 6 when I drove down the Westside Hwy. on my way to work.  My Dad called from Snowbird land and asked me to get him some.  The problem is; I no longer have a net, and have to work anyway.  Hopefully my son can get some for him.

[Ghost Hunter]

I have a net if anyone is running late from Cougar/Ariel area.   Or a few bags of frozen, seasoned smelt for bait.  Likely won't be doing much sturgeon fishing.

[birddogdad]

long way to travel for 10# of fish....need 17 kids in tow to make it worth the efforts!

[Ghost Hunter]

long way to travel for 10# of fish....need 17 kids in tow to make it worth the efforts!

Like the couple that filled a truck bed last time.  I'm sure there will be some trying to make it worth it. 

[2MANY]

Smelt Ghost Camps.

[Jake Dogfish]

It was a little slow.  Nobody caught any at the first spot we went.
Second spot scraped up a limit.

[Smokeploe]

Possible another smelt dip.  Testing today.  Might know tomorrow.

Smokeploe

[HntnFsh]

From North of Lexington to Gearheart was nuts for critters over the weekend. Saw probably 200 eagles. 30 in one group of trees below Rocky point, and closer to lexington park saw about 15 soaring around like a group of vultures. They were every where. Pretty cool. Looked over the bank at Rocky point Sunday and saw about 30 lions. 1 group of 6 or 8. They were spread out all the way to the railroad bridge below Gearheart. Seagulls were crazy thick from below Camelot to kelso. A lot of new apartment roofs painted white.

Not quite as much action Monday, but saw gulls picking up smelt from the middle of the river. Less action downsteam Monday also.

[HntnFsh]

Way less activity today. Mostly down at Gearheart. But much slower there also. Haven't seen the birds score a smelt yet.

[Parasite]

Looks like we are getting a 2nd day for smelt on March 5th.

[fowl smacker]

The Indians were getting very few yesterday at Camelot.  I watched for about 10 minutes and saw them (2 dippers) get maybe a dozen.  Mostly empty nets.

[trophyhunt]

Done this once when I was a kid, it was fun.  But what is the main reason to get smelt?  My dad smoked them guys and all if I remember correctly, do you guys smoke them or is it mostly for bait?

[Encore 280]

After they're cleaned, roll in flour and fry until golden brown.  My uncle would brine then smoke whole. They're also good for sturgeon bait .

[HntnFsh]

Same as above. Except I rarely use them for bait anymore since sturgeon fishing is practically non existent. I always did better with shrimp than smelt anyway.

The Cowlitz below Salmon creek and the Toutle is really high and muddy. Probably be worse by Wednesday. I'm not holding out too much hope for smelt.

[birddogdad]

did this when i was younger on Fingerlakes in upstate NY state. Different smelt same sizes but limits were worth going after.. 5 gal pail daily and run was several weeks up the creeks... had speed nets (handle was shaped to cut water, metal basket, night time was the run in creeks... lots of fun. Found that for long term eating, freezing whole (guts and head)  they  tasted best later when thawed and processed later. not really an issue here as your limit is not much more than a snack.

[Ghost Hunter]

Ae least the working folks can take the kids and get an hour or two in after work.   

Additional one-day smelt fishery announced for Cowlitz River on Tuesday, March 5
RIDGEFIELD – There will be another opportunity to dip for smelt in the Cowlitz River as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved an additional one-day recreational fishery from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.

To increase access opportunity, the upper boundary of the fishery has been extended. Dip-netting is permitted from the shore along the river from the Highway 432 Bridge near Kelso upstream to the mouth of the Toutle River north of Castle Rock, spanning the north end of the mouth to the opposite bank of the Cowlitz River. For more details including a map showing fishing boundaries and popular access areas, visit the Cowlitz River smelt fishing webpage.

[HntnFsh]

Not sure I would want my kids along that shore the way the river is running.

[Ghost Hunter]

Wife just drove home from Chehalis area.  Said the rivers are looking ugly.  Looks like all the footage they added to the Toutle River is private ground. 

[HntnFsh]

Ok, I'll pull back on my negativity a bit. Had to run to Longview. Came back westside Hiway. There were a group of tribal members at Carnival market with a bunch of little kids. They were having fun and getting a few smelt. Most of the kids that dipped werent putting in a lot of effort but were pulling up at least a smelt a dip. Another one was dialed in and getting a half dozen at a dip. They were all having a lot of fun!

I drove up Westside to Castle Rock. Pulled over below Camelot and could see smelt swimming along the bank. Mostly onesie twosies. But occasionally a half dozen at a time and pretty regular. Theye were only about a foot off the bank. I stopped and watched some more of what I presume to be tribal members dipping at the little park on the east side of the river below Castle Rock. They were doing pretty good and probably filled a 5 gallon bucket in 6 or 8 dips.

Thats my report for the day!

[shadowless_nite]

Sounds like today's efforts were a total bust!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Sounds like today's efforts were a total bust!

.
I only came home with 4.
I saw empty buckets and a lot of people.
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I went with a member, he had awesome nets, and refused fuel money.
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Overall, it was a good day because my 4 little minnows were still better than average.
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And even the WDFW confirmed my belief that it is about managing people, and not fish and game.
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The guy actually said that is the reason for the time restriction for the season.
.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'm waiting for their news release, and a weekend day.
.

[hard hunter]

I tried it yesterday and it was a total joke.  I went from the south to the north boundaries looking for fish with no luck.  I did see more wardens than I have ever seen.  Felt like typical F&W, let the fish go by and then open up the season.  Seems to happen every year for springers.

[metlhead]

But you had the opportunity.

[Mikey The Cat]

HH - Columbia River smelt are still a federally listed species. We're fortunate we have any season whatsoever. And do you have any idea of the hoops the WDFW has to jump through, even to get a half-day season open for the general public? Commercial test netting. More commercial test netting. NOAA then gets involved. And after The COVID, everything could go Green Light and then be shut down by the Washington Department of Health. It is, as the gentleman said, an opportunity, NOT a guarantee. You can always buy smelt (?)