Fishing Washington

The Steelheading this winter has been a tough one at times.  The drift boat has been sitting mainly unused with all the high water.  I have managed to pull a few good trips on the Kalama in between the bouts of rain and blown out rivers.  The late hatchery steelhead are getting ready to start hammering lures and bait on the Cowlitz.  Side drifting has been producing some dark steelhead with a few fresh fish being caught.  The hatchery fish in the Cowlitz have been set up by the state so that they come in over an extended period of time.  The is a health shot of fish that is supposed to be headed in this month.  Expectations are high for a good February with mixed catches of hatchery brats and native steelhead. 

Once the Cowlitz hits 40 degrees or higher the smelt should show up in the Columbia and Cowlitz rivers.  Early netting has had a few smelt caught but not in high enough numbers to be able to start dipping.  I will be keeping a eye on the river and will post when the smelt dipping gets hot.

Cowlitz River, Cowlitz River Guides, Hatchery Steelhead, Native Steelhead, Smelt dipping, Smelt fishing, Winter Steelhead

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