HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown Anglers hoping for an additional day of smelt dipping on the Cowlitz River are going to have a long wait. In fact, it looks doubtful if there will be another day of dipping this year. Olaf Langness, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologist, said the goal of fish managers this year was to gather data on adult smelt returning to spawn while retaining some connection with area people. The smelt run was forecasted to be somewhat smaller than the previous two years, and it was. On the Cowlitz, best catches were had in the Lexington-to-Camelot area, with one to five pounds per dip. Below and above that area, the range was zero to 10 fish per dip. WDFW estimated there were around 3,000 dippers on the river at one time. While it took most people more time to get their 10GÇôpound limit than in the past two seasons, limits were achieved by nearly everyone interviewed. According to WDFW, an estimated 16,700 dippers caught 141,050 pounds (roughly 1.6 million smelt) during the Feb. 6 six-hour fishing period. Commercial landings were smaller this year due to low participation and because average poundsGÇôperGÇôlanding were about half of what were had during last year's season. Reports of marine mammal and bird predation declining in the mainstem Columbia may mean the run is basically over. Also, female eulachon adults caught in the lower reaches of the Cowlitz were predominately spent fish, which is another indication the run may be just about over. If the run was still incoming, females entering the river would be carrying eggs. There doesn't seem to be anything to indicate a rebuilding of the run, but if there is improvement, WDFW may pursue another fishing period on the Cowlitz.
Other fishing notes
" WDFW has released its 2016 forecasts for returning spring chinook to the Cowlitz , Kalama, Lewis and Willamette rivers. The Cowlitz is forecasted to have a return of 25,100, Kalama 4,900, Lewis 1,100 and Willamette 70.100 chinook. Joe Hymer of the WDFW reported two spring chinook were recovered by Tacoma Power employees at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery last week. also recovered were 79 winter-run steelhead. Fishing has been pretty slow throughout the river.
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net.
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