With the good smelt runs this year and last, good numbers of smelt enter the lower Lewis and NF Lewis. Driving down to the lower coastal rivers while the smelt run is in full force reveals a buttload of seals in the Lower Columbia. Why would they smim up into the Lewis itself? The mouths of most rivers are very shallow compared to the Columbia, which makes it easier to chase down their meal, obviously. I'm sure an early spring chinook and a downriver steelhead add as a nice bonus. Heck, the seals can have em (that is, the smelt), just get the hell out when the springers really start to show up!

James