Smelt

[doyourtime89]

I was watching Outdoor GPS yesterday and someone from the SW Washington area called in and said there had been a ton a smelt in the Cowlitz for the last week or so and he had a very reliable source that is saying we are going to get one day to dip smelt this year.  He said his source didn't know when it would happen, but claims its going to happen.  Just wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this?

[3dvapor]

I have family in castle rock and they say the smelt are thick right now.

[Igottanewknee]

This is Washington state..... probably no dipping. 

[Jake Dogfish]

This is Washington state..... probably no dipping. 

I hope so but I would not be surprised if they find a reason to open it.  Smelt as broadcast spawners require abundance as part of there life cycle.  Wdfw policy does not allow abundance.

[HntnFsh]

This is Washington state..... probably no dipping. 

I hope so but I would not be surprised if they find a reason to open it.  Smelt as broadcast spawners require abundance as part of there life cycle.  Wdfw policy does not allow abundance.

I also hope they keep it closed. As much as I enjoy dipping for them, eating them and using them for bait I don't think they should have a season.

[xwizard50]

If they do like last year, they will wait until the run is over and then open it up for a Saturday 6 am to 12 noon. I live right by the Cowlitz river at rocky point, nobody got a single one last year.

[Bullkllr]

This is Washington state..... probably no dipping. 

I hope so but I would not be surprised if they find a reason to open it.  Smelt as broadcast spawners require abundance as part of there life cycle.  Wdfw policy does not allow abundance.

Funny, but sad, and also true.

[jeffitz]

Savoring a few packages of smelt in the freezer from a few years ago for sturgeon bait - would be nice to freshen the stockpile

[fowl smacker]

If they do like last year, they will wait until the run is over and then open it up for a Saturday 6 am to 12 noon. I live right by the Cowlitz river at rocky point, nobody got a single one last year.

The Indians did.  They also got some yesterday at Carnival market.  I stopped and watched for a few minutes on my way home from work.  They were not thick by any means.  They were getting 0-3 every dip.  I drive the Cow every day, there really wasn't a very big or thick run.  I very highly doubt it gets opened to the public, and if it does, there won't be any dipped.