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Author Topic: SMELT OPENINGS  (Read 6325 times)

Offline Encore 280

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SMELT OPENINGS
« on: January 16, 2025, 07:38:18 PM »
Looks like there could be 14 days of smelt dipping, upon approval of course. Cross your fingers!

Offline CastleRocker

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2025, 07:49:22 PM »
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.
Work to live, don't live to work.

You can educate away ignorance, sober up drunkenness, but you can't fix stupid.

Offline Encore 280

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2025, 08:27:11 PM »
WDFW mentions all the obstacles that affects the run, except for the sea lions. :bash:

Offline The Gobble-stopper

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2025, 12:00:54 AM »
Were announced that the first two days, Wednesday the 5th and Saturday the 8th will be closed for dipping. Go figure!

Offline Jake Dogfish

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2025, 11:56:17 PM »
Anyone hear anything positive?
I bought a new net and it’s looking like this runs a bust.  :dunno:
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Offline HntnFsh

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2025, 05:42:15 AM »
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!

Offline CastleRocker

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2025, 05:49:50 AM »
I'm thinking when the water level/flow comes back down, they'll show up. 
Work to live, don't live to work.

You can educate away ignorance, sober up drunkenness, but you can't fix stupid.

Offline C-Money

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2025, 06:29:29 AM »
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?
I felt like a one legged cat trying to bury a terd on a frozen pond!

Offline 30.06

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2025, 11:03:29 AM »
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.

Offline storyteller

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2025, 11:07:49 AM »
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.

Offline BigGoonTuna

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2025, 11:27:09 AM »
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.
you can still get gas in heaven, and a drink in kingdom come,
in the meantime, i'll be cleaning my gun

Offline TeacherMan

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2025, 12:37:21 PM »
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.
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline Parasite

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2025, 01:35:27 PM »
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.

Offline Remnar

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2025, 03:14:40 PM »
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. :twocents:

Offline storyteller

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Re: SMELT OPENINGS
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2025, 04:57:38 PM »
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

 


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