Yep, it’s that time of year again. The Cowlitz River smelt are making their annual run!
Word on the street is… this year’s run is a little better than the last three. I’ve had my days so darned mixed up lately, that I missed the last two weekends of dipping. I guess the run has been so weak, that we’re only allowed to dip 10lbs one day a week (Saturday) now. Bummer!
For those of you who don’t know anything about Smelt, they’re a little Anchovy looking fish that swim in from the ocean to spawn. Read all about them on Wikipedia.
As a younger lad, I only lived about and MLB player’s throw from the Cowlitz River in Kelso. About 20 years ago, my friends and I used to go down to the river and catch the smelt with our bare hands. That’s how many there were back then! Now more than anything this time of year, I’m just annoyed by the people driving around looking and stopping in the middle of the highway or darting across the highway on foot without even looking first! Come on people… a couple of 6″ fish aren’t worth getting run over for. Ha-ha
Tags: cowlitz river smelt, smelt, smelt dipping
hi yall never done it but my old man used to take off for a couple of weekend every jan and feb in the fifties and sixies when i was a kid and i fell in love those little suckers. i tried buying them fom the stores over the years and they were never very fresh. my wife and i both are retiring at the end of 2009 we live in moses lake on the dry side of washington and would like to come and git some this year or next and would take any suggestions on where when and how we are both in good physical condition. thanks b.c.
Hi Bob,
Wish I could offer some tips on hot spots, but I didn’t even end up getting out myself the past few years. I’m looking forward to getting some this year. I love them too.
If you got over here during the run, I’m sure you could probably find someone peddling fresh stuff even if you couldn’t catch any yourself.
lil john
Go to Longview & Kelso Washington. My sister lives there and she said they are actually jumping out of the water onto the banks! She said this is the best year in a long time with crazy amounts of smelt!
I live right down the street from the river in Kelso/Lexington. Rumored to be a good run. No fishing this year though.