Smelt

[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!

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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.
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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'm waiting for their news release, and a weekend day.
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[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 (?)