Smelt

[Parasite]

No smelt between Lexington and kelso

[PointBlank]

None at gearhart. Reports of activity in cathlamet area might be here by Saturday…

[sealaskasummer]

Still none at Gerhart. Right at the mouth but not moving in.

[Jason]

A couple buddies went out this morning and they also said it was empty nets everywhere.

[Parasite]

Too bad USGS doesnt monitor stream temperature on the Cowlitz. Would probably have been useful this week.

[Jake Dogfish]

Too bad USGS doesnt monitor stream temperature on the Cowlitz. Would probably have been useful this week.

Yeah could of saved some gas.

[CastleRocker]

Not sure what stream temps were going to tell anyone.  I've been living by the Cowlitz for about 59 years now, and they used to hit the river about mid to late January, and stay until the first of
April.  I dipped them commercially for 6 or 7 years, and I can tell you for a fact that the temperature of the Cowlitz has no bearing on what smelt do.  I've dipped them in the single digits, with ice floating down the river, and in the 70°'s in a t-shirt.  The river temp won't change as much as the air, but it definitely changes, and they don't really care.  Smelt are most suseptible to current.  They are not strong swimmers.  A high water will blow them back into the Columbia, and then they would head up the Lewis, or some years, all the way up to the Sandy.  They aren't like a salmon/steelhead as they don't car what river they spawn in.  They spawned one year in the Columbia.  We dipped them off Rainier Beach.  In the early '80's, they were so thick in the Grays River for two seasons, we dipped there.  In my opinion, the shimp fishery has hurt the smelt runs tremendously.   Sonar just shows a biomass, so the gear is set, they make a trawl, and "oops" a hundred thousand pounds of smelt are in the cod-end.  Doesn't take a lot of those per boat per season to make a difference.   Not their fault, as it's a lot of work for no money, and the school looks good on the 'finder.  Lots more Sea Lions now that there aren't any commercial fishermen...I sure that's a coincidence.

[metlhead]

Tacoma Power does. It is a few days late and warmer than temps below the Toutle

[Parasite]

Anyone giving it a shot tomorrow?

[millerwheeler]

Tagging thanks everyone on info, I know my boys are looking forward to trying it

[fowl smacker]

If you're planning on traveling from afar save your gas.  Not here yet.  Maybe Saturday?

[Parasite]

I think I'm done for this year. All the reports I've heard is they are staying in the Columbia

[CastleRocker]

Talked to a friend of mine who is fishing them commercially.  They are spawning down by Cathlamet in the Columbia this year.  I don't think they'll come up the Cowlitz in enough numbers to dip. 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Anyone getting smelt today, March 19 on the cowlitz?

[PointBlank]

Heard it’s a blank… might be Saturday or else they are spawning in the big c…

[Bigfoot28]

Anyone see any signs in the Cowlitz today? Had heard of a lot of sea lions near Stella but not in the Cowlitz.

[fowl smacker]

Anyone see any signs in the Cowlitz today? Had heard of a lot of sea lions near Stella but not in the Cowlitz.

Nope

[Bigfoot28]

Anyone see any signs in the Cowlitz today? Had heard of a lot of sea lions near Stella but not in the Cowlitz.

Nope

Appreciate the update, thank you.

[The Gobble-stopper]

March 22 anyone finding smelt today?

[Jake Dogfish]

I guess they went up the Lewis.  I heard the Sandy in Oregon also got a big run.
https://yakamafish-nsn.gov/news/update-smelt-permits

[storyteller]

Sandy river had poachers, they got caught with 2500 ponds of smelt.  Article on koin tv

[HntnFsh]

Sounds like they started up the Cowlitz

[fowl smacker]

Sounds like they started up the Cowlitz

Yep, finally.

[Encore 280]

Watched a YouTube on the Sandy a couple days ago and they were in there pretty thick. Limit plus in one dip. Encouraging.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Don't give up...Keep Dreaming!

[Encore 280]

Norwegian Krak right there! Used to chow down on those when my Uncle smoked em, heads, guts and the whole works! And a Rainier!!

[CastleRocker]

Stopped and watched some tribal dippers on the way home from work.  Looked like they were doing pretty well.  Of couse they had no competition, and had both law enforcement entities; WDFW, and Cowlitz Co. Sheriff to make sure there was no harassment or bullying.   They squared off to me when I got out of my truck and walked towards them like they'd been watching too much tough guy TV.  I just laughed and shook my head, and walked around them to go talk to the guys dipping.  Didn't see how much they had in their tote, but they were getting some smelt.