Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: ridgefire on February 17, 2019, 02:25:56 PM

Title: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: ridgefire on February 17, 2019, 02:25:56 PM: Anybody have a report of how the river is fishing? Hoping to head down there one of these weekends.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: 87Ford on February 17, 2019, 03:22:27 PM: Well, a whopping seven winter-runs were recovered last week at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator, so probably still a bit early..

https://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/fish-wildlife-environment/cowlitz-fish-report.htm
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: HntnFsh on February 17, 2019, 07:46:42 PM: Actually Ive heard reports of decent fishing at Blue creek. I saw about 6 trailers in the lot a week ago Friday. Last Friday the trailer parking slots were full. Should tell you something.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: HntnFsh on February 22, 2019, 06:16:06 AM: I know a guy that's 2 for 3 from the bank in the last 2 days! That's pretty good fishing!
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: BigGoonTuna on February 22, 2019, 06:52:10 AM: Quote from: HntnFsh on February 17, 2019, 07:46:42 PM
Actually Ive heard reports of decent fishing at Blue creek. I saw about 6 trailers in the lot a week ago Friday. Last Friday the trailer parking slots were full. Should tell you something.
yeah, that there isn't enough water in the wynoochee to fit their guide barges!
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: HntnFsh on February 22, 2019, 10:39:49 AM: Quote from: BigGoonTuna on February 22, 2019, 06:52:10 AM
Quote from: HntnFsh on February 17, 2019, 07:46:42 PM
Actually Ive heard reports of decent fishing at Blue creek. I saw about 6 trailers in the lot a week ago Friday. Last Friday the trailer parking slots were full. Should tell you something.
yeah, that there isn't enough water in the wynoochee to fit their guide barges!

Apparently they dont like the snow. Or they cleaned the river out. Only 3 trailers at Blue creek this morning.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: 2MANY on February 22, 2019, 10:47:57 AM: Hope you took your top.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: ridgefire on March 14, 2019, 10:47:02 PM: Sounds like they are getting some fish down there. Anybody been out recently?
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: fowl smacker on March 15, 2019, 05:34:39 AM: https://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/fish-wildlife-environment/cowlitz-fish-report.htm
2 steelhead last week. Things are picking up!
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: Bigshooter on March 15, 2019, 05:43:39 AM: Quote from: fowl smacker on March 15, 2019, 05:34:39 AM
https://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/fish-wildlife-environment/cowlitz-fish-report.htm
2 steelhead last week. Things are picking up!

I wouldn't worry about numbers in the hatchery unless you want to be late to the party.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: fowl smacker on March 15, 2019, 06:46:27 AM: Quote from: Bigshooter on March 15, 2019, 05:43:39 AM
Quote from: fowl smacker on March 15, 2019, 05:34:39 AM
https://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/fish-wildlife-environment/cowlitz-fish-report.htm
2 steelhead last week. Things are picking up!

I wouldn't worry about numbers in the hatchery unless you want to be late to the party.
To some extent I agree, but there is not a good return coming back right now, and it's not because they're all being caught before they get there. I'd guess that less than 50% of returning fish are "biters" (I'm just judging from my fishing experience and from what I've seen). I'm not saying you can't catch some fish when the weekly return is at 2, but it isn't good fishing by any means.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 15, 2019, 10:04:20 AM: Most of the rivers I've looked at recently have had really low flow for the past month or so. Maybe they're waiting for rain, maybe they don't exist....with WDFW I lean more toward the latter.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: michaelcx38 on March 15, 2019, 11:28:20 AM: :yeah: the rivers have been looking more like streams lately. hoping some fresh rain next week will help spur em a bit.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2019, 11:31:05 AM: People would be catching more fish if they were coming. It might not be lights out, but people would find them. In years past, at this flow, fishing can be pretty darn good if the fish are coming in numbers.
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: JakeLand on March 17, 2019, 08:28:49 PM: We’ve been hooking a few the last 2 weekends not hot yet !!
Title: Re: Cowlitz stealhead
Post by: buckhorn2 on March 17, 2019, 09:19:22 PM: Wonder if all the sea lions above kelso after smelt could have something to do with the returns.