Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: crow360 on January 31, 2012, 10:29:20 AM

Title: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: crow360 on January 31, 2012, 10:29:20 AM: Thinking about heading down to the cowlitz this weekend and was wondering if anyone knew if they where catching steelhead.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Bigshooter on January 31, 2012, 10:30:40 AM: I have a few buddies that have been hitting it with boats around blue creek and they have been doing ok. Not great but not bad.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: TheHunt on February 01, 2012, 06:29:05 PM: Blue creek at the crack pipe is usually OK. I did hear some BS about the barrior dam but I think that was BS as most fish are trying to get into the blue creek hatchery. But I am only been fishing since last October.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: elkslayer069 on February 01, 2012, 06:30:45 PM: It was pretty good at blue crk couple weeks ago its slowed down this week and not as nice of fish
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 01, 2012, 07:24:16 PM: It was off the hook when we had the last high water. There's fish at bc 365 days a year :twocents:
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: huntnphool on February 01, 2012, 07:28:36 PM: Its still running high at 10k/cfs
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 01, 2012, 07:39:05 PM: Yes it is...
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: huntnphool on February 02, 2012, 04:25:41 PM: Dropped a bit today.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=14238000&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: TheHunt on February 02, 2012, 06:34:47 PM: Always good to fish when the water is dropping.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 02, 2012, 06:42:07 PM: It can be good when the water rises and stabilizes on dammed rivers such as the mother cow.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: steeleywhopper on February 03, 2012, 05:27:53 AM: Do you guys tend to use heavier gear when bank fishing at Blue Creek or is your standard 8-12 rated rod and 12lb mainline ok? I was thinking about hitting it this weekend, but did not want to be undergunned as I have never fished there.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: TheHunt on February 03, 2012, 07:05:03 AM: I have switch to the 10 lb main line and 8 lb leader. 99.999% of the people will be respectful of your light line if you get a fish on and they will reel in a help you. But you always have that one who might be there. So it is a gamble but if you go down with two or more folks with you that one person will usally back down.

But as I said most are nice and respectful.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 03, 2012, 09:23:02 AM: No need for light line right now, standard 12/10 should be fine. :twocents:
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: TheHunt on February 03, 2012, 10:02:12 AM: I hate respooling for the some minor weight. Since I have 10/8 that is what I would use.

BUT that brings up a great question: How many spools do you run spooled up with what poundages?
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 03, 2012, 10:14:54 AM: I have 1 baitcaster spooled with 12 or 15 at all times and 1 spinning rod with 10 at all times. Everything else is spooled with braid!
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: huntnphool on February 03, 2012, 10:15:52 AM: I have been using 10/8 mono combo down there for years and have never felt I need to go heavier.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Dhoey07 on February 03, 2012, 10:26:20 AM: Quote from: huntnphool on February 03, 2012, 10:15:52 AM
I have been using 10/8 mono combo down there for years and have never felt I need to go heavier.

Oh come on now. You're supposed to use 30lb braid in the puyallup for humpies, how can you catch a steelhead in the Cow on 8lb?! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 03, 2012, 04:49:25 PM: Should have said it different. 10/8 in the boat is golden and pretty much standard for sidedrifting/boondoggin. If your on the bank beef it up. Those fish are not line shy :twocents:
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: GEARHEAD on February 03, 2012, 05:38:27 PM: DITTO, from the bank you need 12 lbs min. reason is all the people around you.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: TheHunt on February 03, 2012, 07:09:20 PM: Quote from: fckfords07 on February 03, 2012, 10:26:20 AM
Quote from: huntnphool on February 03, 2012, 10:15:52 AM
I have been using 10/8 mono combo down there for years and have never felt I need to go heavier.

Oh come on now. You're supposed to use 30lb braid in the puyallup for humpies, how can you catch a steelhead in the Cow on 8lb?! :chuckle: :chuckle:

I saw some of that when I fished for Humpies on the Puyallup this summer. It was the Russians and Ukrainians using that line with garage sale salmon poles. Definately meat fishing.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: Bigshooter on February 04, 2012, 01:33:16 PM: Quote from: fckfords07 on February 03, 2012, 10:26:20 AM
Quote from: huntnphool on February 03, 2012, 10:15:52 AM
I have been using 10/8 mono combo down there for years and have never felt I need to go heavier.

Oh come on now. You're supposed to use 30lb braid in the puyallup for humpies, how can you catch a steelhead in the Cow on 8lb?! :chuckle: :chuckle:

I like 8lb out of a boat. But 10lb or 12lb off the bank.
Title: Re: Cowlitz river report??
Post by: ridgefire on February 04, 2012, 03:13:56 PM: i would use 12lb min. if fishing from bank.. those fish are not leader shy and i tend to fish the heavier water for them