Salmo,
Yes, I was wade fishing both rivers. The Yak above Ellensburg has a nice population of cutts. I caught four cutts on Wednesday. Their population seems to be increasing over the past 25+ years I've fished it. There are certain stretches or holes that I fish that are pretty much guaranteed to yield a cutt or two. While I was stripping in a small cutt, I had what looked to be a good 17" or so cutt come up and try to grab it.

As far as the Cowlitz src's, I used to swing or strip for them more then I do now. Over the past few years, I've found that they really like nymphs. Using a large dry and dropper isn't everyones cup of tea, but it has produced some 15-20 fish days while floating it. I'd say a good 75% of the fish come on the nymph versus the dry. When they eat the dry that's good stuff in my opinion as well.
I did see some folks with some swing caught steelies and cutts while I was there.