SMELT OPENINGS

[Encore 280]

Looks like there could be 14 days of smelt dipping, upon approval of course. Cross your fingers!

[CastleRocker]

The first "pilot run" is in the Columbia by Longview now.  Watched a Sea Lion come up chomping on some.  The seagulls have been gathering as well.

[Encore 280]

WDFW mentions all the obstacles that affects the run, except for the sea lions.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Were announced that the first two days, Wednesday the 5th and Saturday the 8th will be closed for dipping. Go figure!

[Jake Dogfish]

Anyone hear anything positive?
I bought a new net and it’s looking like this runs a bust. 

[HntnFsh]

Way too early to think that. The water is finally starting to warm up. Ive seen big runs of smelt all of the way through March and a couple in April. Dont give up yet!

[CastleRocker]

I'm thinking when the water level/flow comes back down, they'll show up. 

[C-Money]

Is there a rod & reel season for smelt? I enjoyed catching them through the ice in Lake Erie as a kid. Wonder if some micro crappie jigs would get them to bite in the river?

[30.06]

Used to be popular to catch smelt in late February on rod and reel in Swinomish Slough La Conner. The town even had a Smelt Derby! Sabiki rig with 8 real small gold hooks.

[storyteller]

Been many years but I used to catch  them in La Conner on rod and reel as well.    Curiousity got me,  I looked it up,  there is still a season, year round  for rod and reel.   Have at it.

[BigGoonTuna]

I would think that hook and line fishing would be pretty tough on the lower Cowlitz, the water down there is usually pretty colored up this time of year, and especially with the Toutle puking mud after the rain we’ve been getting lately.

[TeacherMan]

Question, what is the difference between a smelt and a hooligan? The hooligan in AK are so thick you can get a 5-gallon bucket in one dip of the net.

[Parasite]

Question, what is the difference between a smelt and a hooligan? The hooligan in AK are so thick you can get a 5-gallon bucket in one dip of the net.

Same fish. Eulachon - Hooligan. Someones slang term for it that just too off most likely.

[Remnar]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/smelt#regulations

No angling allowed in Cowlitz.

What I have seen referred to as Hooligans are a different species. They are a surf smelt.

[storyteller]

This thread was mainly about  Cowlitz river smelt, but I will this link, there are 7 species of smelt, all the  same but  different.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/01219/wdfw01219.pdf