Smalma

In all the years that I have fished, and guided on the Cowlitz River (18 plus years), I have only seen one lamprey ell in the Cowlitz River. Yet when I have fished in the Green River, (Lewis/Cowlitz County) I have seen lots of ells in that river during the same time period. Since the Green and the Toutle both were heavily affected by the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens, and much of the habitat in both rivers were complexly destroyed. Yet there have been plenty of ells continuing to come back into that river system. So what the heck is going on if habitat is the key that affects their survival?

Why are they not coming back to the Cowlitz?

Cowlitzfisherman
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Cowlitzfisherman

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