In a couple months it will be that time of year again on the Cowlitz.Lots of silvers,and about as many boats.A lot of these will be guides.I know that there are a lot of good people on the river,and some damn good guides. I've also seen that a few of the guides feel that since they have paying clients in their boat,that they have the right to put fish in the boat,no matter what it takes.It seems that its been really cutthroat out there the last few years and there is no such thing as common courtesy between boat and bank anglers.Several people I fish with feel that there are a few guides giving a whole bunch of others a bad rap.
There needs to be a way to moniter the guides on the river,and weed out a few of the bad seeds.Whether its by law enforcement or other guides,there is a growing need for something to be done.It would benefit the many guides(most) out there that are professional and courteous.
I know last year there was at least one assault on the river between guides,clients, and bank fisherman.Plus I personally saw a lot of other confrontations that were very close to escalating into violence.
All of this could have been avoided with common courtesy and good sportsmanship by everybody involved.
I think that with the runs expected this year,there are going to be a lot more people on the river and its banks.Thus boosting the possibility of confrontations that much more.
It seems as though the enforcement on the river has been practically nonexistant.If there were more presence I think it would go a long way towards making people be real sportsmen,and greatly reduce the risk of confrontations.
I hope that I don't come across as slamming guides in general,because that is not my intent.Most guides are also good sportsmen.What I would like to see is a way to improve the interaction between bank and boat anglers,thus making the Cowlitz river silver fishery a more enjoyable experience for every body involved.
Any ideas or feedback is appreciated.

It's gonna be rough this year. I'm very surprized that no one has been shot yet. Just wait, it'll happen. Tempers flair, things are too crowded, etc. If we don't get a little bit of enforcement on the Cowlitz, it's only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. I've seen several fist fights in the last few years at Blue creek, and with all the Crank fiends down there Glow balling at night, and all the drinking and stuff that's been going on down there at night.... Well, I said it before, there's bound to be problems eventually. We need to clean up our acts and do some stuff get rid of the "Undesirables" that are currently screwing it up for everyone.

If I were a guide I would be very concerned with the image that a few guides are giving guides as a whole. Maybe some of the better guides should create a "guides guild" of sorts, as a type of union guaranteeing prospective clients that the guide they hire act professionally, respectably, and courteously to their fellow fisherman. Could be a very good way to get rid of the bad seeds.

As for the bad bankies...that's a tough one without calling the authorities in. Without "da man" babysitting the babies we will certainly have more

Hey blow, who ever said anything about the bankies being bad? It's them damn boaters that cause all the problems J/K. Yeah, since I bank on it all the time I've seen some really nasty one's.

Hey, us bankies aren't the problem and we all know that. It's those snobby guides.