Smelt

[Ghost Hunter]

I have a net if anyone is running late from Cougar/Ariel area.   Or a few bags of frozen, seasoned smelt for bait.  Likely won't be doing much sturgeon fishing.

[birddogdad]

long way to travel for 10# of fish....need 17 kids in tow to make it worth the efforts!

[Ghost Hunter]

long way to travel for 10# of fish....need 17 kids in tow to make it worth the efforts!

Like the couple that filled a truck bed last time.  I'm sure there will be some trying to make it worth it. 

[2MANY]

Smelt Ghost Camps.

[Jake Dogfish]

It was a little slow.  Nobody caught any at the first spot we went.
Second spot scraped up a limit.

[Smokeploe]

Possible another smelt dip.  Testing today.  Might know tomorrow.

Smokeploe

[HntnFsh]

From North of Lexington to Gearheart was nuts for critters over the weekend. Saw probably 200 eagles. 30 in one group of trees below Rocky point, and closer to lexington park saw about 15 soaring around like a group of vultures. They were every where. Pretty cool. Looked over the bank at Rocky point Sunday and saw about 30 lions. 1 group of 6 or 8. They were spread out all the way to the railroad bridge below Gearheart. Seagulls were crazy thick from below Camelot to kelso. A lot of new apartment roofs painted white.

Not quite as much action Monday, but saw gulls picking up smelt from the middle of the river. Less action downsteam Monday also.

[HntnFsh]

Way less activity today. Mostly down at Gearheart. But much slower there also. Haven't seen the birds score a smelt yet.

[Parasite]

Looks like we are getting a 2nd day for smelt on March 5th.

[fowl smacker]

The Indians were getting very few yesterday at Camelot.  I watched for about 10 minutes and saw them (2 dippers) get maybe a dozen.  Mostly empty nets.

[trophyhunt]

Done this once when I was a kid, it was fun.  But what is the main reason to get smelt?  My dad smoked them guys and all if I remember correctly, do you guys smoke them or is it mostly for bait?

[Encore 280]

After they're cleaned, roll in flour and fry until golden brown.  My uncle would brine then smoke whole. They're also good for sturgeon bait .

[HntnFsh]

Same as above. Except I rarely use them for bait anymore since sturgeon fishing is practically non existent. I always did better with shrimp than smelt anyway.

The Cowlitz below Salmon creek and the Toutle is really high and muddy. Probably be worse by Wednesday. I'm not holding out too much hope for smelt.

[birddogdad]

did this when i was younger on Fingerlakes in upstate NY state. Different smelt same sizes but limits were worth going after.. 5 gal pail daily and run was several weeks up the creeks... had speed nets (handle was shaped to cut water, metal basket, night time was the run in creeks... lots of fun. Found that for long term eating, freezing whole (guts and head)  they  tasted best later when thawed and processed later. not really an issue here as your limit is not much more than a snack.

[Ghost Hunter]

Ae least the working folks can take the kids and get an hour or two in after work.   

Additional one-day smelt fishery announced for Cowlitz River on Tuesday, March 5
RIDGEFIELD – There will be another opportunity to dip for smelt in the Cowlitz River as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved an additional one-day recreational fishery from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.

To increase access opportunity, the upper boundary of the fishery has been extended. Dip-netting is permitted from the shore along the river from the Highway 432 Bridge near Kelso upstream to the mouth of the Toutle River north of Castle Rock, spanning the north end of the mouth to the opposite bank of the Cowlitz River. For more details including a map showing fishing boundaries and popular access areas, visit the Cowlitz River smelt fishing webpage.