collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: SMELT OPENINGS  (Read 6266 times)

Offline Encore 280

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1995
  • Location: Poulsbo
  • Groups: Encore 280
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

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 1033
  • Location: Castle Rock, WA
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1995
  • Location: Poulsbo
  • Groups: Encore 280
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

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 520
  • Location: Lewis county
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

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 3892
  • Location: Des Moines
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:
Environmentalist Fundamentalist

Online HntnFsh

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 6399
  • Location: Toledo
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

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 1033
  • Location: Castle Rock, WA
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 10988
  • Location: Grant County
  • Self proclaimed 3pt master
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 160
  • Location: Everett
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

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 331
  • Location: Marysville
  • Groups: NRA, DU
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 2421
  • Location: Yelm
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

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4462
  • Location: North Idaho
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

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2018
  • Posts: 555
  • Location: Olympia
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 537
  • Location: sw wa
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

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 331
  • Location: Marysville
  • Groups: NRA, DU
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

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

West side antler buyers by mikey549
[Today at 02:56:08 PM]


Where do the bulls go? by mikey549
[Today at 02:49:14 PM]


My new BB Gun by JDHasty
[Today at 02:41:00 PM]


Anyone use game carts? by avidnwoutdoorsman
[Today at 02:12:57 PM]


Comment against Ski Resort expanding into Colockum elk/deer habitat by Boss .300 winmag
[Today at 02:11:14 PM]


Supreme Court Declines to Hear Corner-Crossing Case by Tbar
[Today at 01:43:14 PM]


2025 blacktail rut thread by ASHQUACK
[Today at 01:34:43 PM]


Looking for Taxidermist Recommendations by Tball77
[Today at 01:23:25 PM]


Duck Boat Blind by metlhead
[Today at 12:44:56 PM]


Let’s see ur heavy pack out pics by Mtnwalker
[Today at 12:43:03 PM]


Shadypass road / fs5900 closed by Transka
[Today at 11:48:56 AM]


New property cams checked by finnman
[Today at 11:36:13 AM]


Desert unit 290 October buck hunt by Mtnwalker
[Today at 11:32:12 AM]


Not quite by metlhead
[Today at 09:57:42 AM]


Wyoming elk who's in? by Gonehuntin01
[Today at 09:46:48 AM]


Mushroom ID Thread by pianoman9701
[Today at 09:45:05 AM]


Harlequin in weird places? by O. Nerka
[Today at 09:33:09 AM]


Early Huckleberry Bull Moose tag drawn! by Gonehuntin01
[Today at 09:29:55 AM]


GMU 368 Nasty Creek Rd Access (Gate) by Booner
[Today at 09:13:23 AM]


East Side by BUCKHUNT
[Today at 09:00:34 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal