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Author Topic: 1 more smelt day the 26th  (Read 1634 times)

Offline HntnFsh

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1 more smelt day the 26th
« on: February 20, 2020, 06:07:36 PM »
February 20, 2020       
Contact: Laura Heironimus, 360-906-6716
Public Affairs contact: Ben Anderson, 360-902-0045
WDFW announces additional one-day smelt opening for Cowlitz River
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved another one-day recreational smelt fishery for Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The portion of the Cowlitz River from the Highway 432 Bridge upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, located approximately 1,300 feet upstream from the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock, will be open to recreational dip netting along the shore from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 26.
This is the second smelt opening on the river in 2020, the first year since 2017 that returns could support a recreational dip net fishery.
The first opening this year proved to be quite successful for recreational dip-netters, said Laura Heironimus, WDFW's Columbia River smelt, sturgeon, and lamprey lead. Fishery managers estimate that nearly 35,000 pounds of smelt were caught during the five-hour opening on Valentine's Day, representing almost 400,000 fish.
Each dip-netter may retain 10 pounds of smelt per day, with no more than one day's limit in possession. Ten pounds is about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket. No fishing license is required to dip net for smelt in this limited fishery.
WDFW Enforcement Capt. Jeff Wickersham noted that WDFW plans to have a strong enforcement presence for the upcoming opener.
Though most fishers followed the rules during the previous opening, WDFW Enforcement officers did confiscate about 500 pounds of smelt from dip-netters who went over the 10-pound limit, Wickersham said.
Columbia River smelt – also known as Eulachon – were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2010, and the run is closely monitored as a result, Heironimus said.
"We work with our federal partners to ensure that opening any fishery for an ESA-listed species won't affect our ability to meet conservation goals," Heironimus said. "We're pleased to see the run is strong enough to support these recreational fisheries this year, and we want to make sure we can continue to offer this fishery in the future."
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities

Offline HntnFsh

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2020, 06:09:20 PM »
Probably 40 or more furbags feeding like crazy in front of Gearhart gardens about 2pm today. Watched them picking up smelt all across the river. Saw a few smelt by the bank doing their last dance.

Offline ELKBURGER

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2020, 07:27:49 AM »
Thanks for posting Rick!

Offline The Marquis

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2020, 01:48:13 PM »
Anybody else get out there and experience the record breaking smelt fishery we saw today?






By record breaking, I mean worst in history
 :bash:

Offline hothand21

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2020, 02:57:46 PM »
Anybody else get out there and experience the record breaking smelt fishery we saw today?






By record breaking, I mean worst in history
 :bash:

NOT A ONE.....

Offline CastleRocker

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2020, 02:58:54 PM »
I spent my lunch searching for the elusive eulachon.  I did see one...in the beak of a seagull.  Even the Sea Lions looked like they were giving up.  Nearly every one, (and there were a LOT of them), was heading downstream.
Work to live, don't live to work.

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

Offline Bunny Thumper

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2020, 02:41:05 AM »
Didn’t even untie the net from the top of the truck! Pulled over multiple times between Kelso and Castle Rock and never saw a single smelt in a net.

Offline The Deacon

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Re: 1 more smelt day the 26th
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2020, 06:10:04 AM »
Took a group of 13 high school kids from Cathlamet to Gearhart for a dip/study day. Fifteen nets got 17 smelt total. Lady nearby said she'd been from Gearhart to CR and back, and our 17 was the most she'd seen! Wish we'd taken 'em on Valentine's Day, but it was great to get out. And only two got soaked. And I mean soaked!
Maggie, January 1994 - 5 May 2008

 


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