Smolt,

Go now. The Cowlitz fishes best for me at lower flows. Tacoma will raise the flow even higher next month. The Cowlitz is a fair sized river, and about as easy to navigate as they come. Naturally, the usual precautions that apply to all waterways apply here as well.

Also, you will have a difficult time launching at Mayfield Dam - no access. The boat launch you're looking for is next to Mill Creek, just downstream of the barrier dam at the salmon hatchery.

I stay away from the barrier dam and trout hatchery fishing areas, so have had no experience with combat fishing. It has been very crowded - especially during December for steelhead fishing. But if you don't go there expecting wilderness solitude, you probably won't be disappointed with the experience. At times it's a real nice river to fish. Unfortunately, I haven't found the fishing to be too productive the last couple seasons. But as they say . . . there's always next season!

Good luck.

Salmo g.