The only reason WDFW will give us a limit increase on silvers this year is to justify another extension for the gill netters on the Lower Columbia.

Even those fish counts have been high at the Barrier Dam; almost no silvers are being caught by sport fishermen. Most likely the only reasons why is because Tacoma Power is dropping the flows on Friday night and then jumping them back up again early Monday Morning! Not good for caching fish…makes Cowlitz fish move… not bit!

Most likely, fish won't bit under these conditions on the Cowlitz. Best to wait for the gill netters to get out before trying your luck on the Cowlitz for silvers!

Hope this reports will help the novelists who don't know what is really happening on the Cowlitz. Almost all silvers, at the current flows are flying straight through to the fish ladder at the Barrier Dam without touching bait, jigs, lures or any thing else.

Good luck if you don't believe me….you will need it!

Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????