We did real well at the flotilla this is the first days limit, we did good all weekend! Don knows where to find thse fishies!(thanks don and joe and the net specialist)
It was alot of fun meeting new folks and doing some fishing in absolutely perfect weather!

BTW there are no fish in the cowlitz

Woodsy Wayne

Good looking pic. man that had to be a blast down there. the river looks like it was in perfect shape. Well, take care.

Rooster and I stopped by for a fish on Saturday, after hitting the NF of the Lewis for most of the day. Put in at Blue Creek at 5:00 pm and fished until about 8:00.

Would have chatted with anyone, and probably handed out some free hooks, swivels, shirts and hats afterwards, but it was not apparent where the flotilla crowd was.

I didn't get caught up in all the board(s) talk, so we had no idea if people were at Blue Creek or Barrier.

Aside from the usual stares by a few folks over on the beach across from Blue Creek, we didn't recognize any one on the river.

Oh well, glad to hear everyone had fun. Looked like a lot of fish were caught.

I brought my boys down to the river for their "right of passage" trip to the Cow. G-man was kind enough to give us a ride on his boat and a chance at some fish. Thanks everyone who humored my boys, along with the tour of the "hook-em-up" guide boat. I wish I would have been able to play all day.

Andy

I was there at 4:30 AM. I was down at BC on the bank fishing at about 4:45. I forgot to make a sing to say I was with the flotila. Any how I couldn't tell who was there for the flotila or not. I asked one guy and he said yes, he seemed a little upset that I asked, and told his buddy that is was a bunch of internet freaks getting togeter. I would say that the people I talked to though besides him were friendly. I didn't see many fish caught there while I was tere. Maybe a total of six fish. I did see a guy make his day and his kids, he caught his first ever steelhead, and we was almost walking on water and his kids were very happy. I got skunked. had 2 break me off but I guess that doesn't count. I talked to a nice lady also that her friend caught 2 first thing in the am. I left without trying to meet up with people at the launch. It looked like most of the festivities took place the night before. I did have fun even though I fell off the bank on the walk out and went swimming.
Buck

I thought the cow was flowing high. looked at the level and the gauge read above 14ft w' 11kcfm by the looks of the pic something is off what gives?

What a blast! Great Food! (Really, there was no Dog in the Stew :p )Great People! And lots of fish for most everyone.

11,000 cfs is quite a bit above the long term average for this time of year. The visibilty is good and there seem to be lots of fish. Very tough at 11k in a drift boat. Few places to rest.

Perhaps next time around we can try to make it a bit more obvious as to where we are meeting. There was quite a gathering around AuntyM's motor home. The beer was cold and the food was hot!

Thickline
Don't know what is "off" but the river was holding alot of fish this weekend, nearly everyone I talked with got into fish.
The river was high indeed, but the fish were there, made it very difficult for driftboats, and the bankers at blue creek did fair I believe.
Gutz, ummm who brought that stew home? if it was not for the spam....cubes...geez....
Hey good call on the stargazing! you nailed that irradium(sp?) flare on the head, you were a fun guy, good to meet you, will be calling for some candle stuff soon

Woodsy Wayne

The bankers at Blue Creek would have done a lot better if there wasn't a tree in the sweet spot of the hole. If anyone with a sled goes past there maybe they could try and pull the tree out? I guess it is fairly new. Some of the guys there said it has only been there for a couple of days. So anyone with a decent sled want to give that a try?
Buck

Me and Shane had a great time, even though I forgot my EGGS!
Thanks to Craven we got one in the boat.
Sunday me and Shane switched to cutts, he won, 6 to 5!
Who would even guess breaded and deep fried Head would taste so AWESOME!
Thanks to everyone making my son Shane (who's 10) feel like an equal. That was his first day with a baitcaster. I didn't have to fix one bird nest!
We are looking forward to the next one

How about on the Fraser for sockeye?

Are you really asking someone to risk their lives by attaching their "decent" sled to a submerged tree?

Perhaps the increased flow will aid in a more sensible departure.

FJ...out.

hey who's that good lookin dude on the right with a limit of steel. hmmmm the flotilla was a blast. hey Guts great stew BTW. what was in that, never mind i probably don't want to know anyway huh sorry if we missed anyone at the flotilla. we were the loud group up till 3 or 4 am and on water by the same time. Gooose is the man great turnout too. hope next one is that good too. FISHON

FJ, No I am not suggesting anyone should risk their lives for a submerged tree, or their sled. I was just making a suggestion. Maybe insted they could hook a rope to the tree and then give it to a couple of guys on the bank and let them try and get it to move down the river. I really don't think it would take much to get the tree to start moving and I don't think anyone would be put in danger. Like I said, just a suggestion. If anyone has any better ideas go for it. I dont think the river will push it down on its own though. That is how it got there in the first place.
Buck

Well it was a huge success in my book...met a lot of new people and had a great time. I am already planning a repeat for next summer ...although not when there is a conflict like Fathers Day. My special thanks to Steelheader69 and RiverGal for saving that gold dog from the kitchen pot....geez seems we consumed everything else!

Buck, I don't know if you are a young buck or not, but you are underestimating the power of water! Like Fish Jesus said, anyone with a drift-boat or a sled knows what can happen when you make a mistake and are at the mercy of the current, or against a sweeper.
Most likely, if the tree is lodged in there, humans short of having a crane will not be getting it to move before the mighty Cowlitz will.
Wish I could have joined the flotilla myself, but being in my business on Father's Day and getting that day off....well as they say, when H*** freezes over.

Ng

Buck, you and your buddies are welcome to go throw a rope around it and tug on it all day if you like....

Fishon grahn, not to bust your bubble but the limlt is three steelies. The duck

Duck at the time of the flotilla the limit was two fish. It did not go to three till Sunday I think.

Sorry it was Sunday they increased the limit.
The Duck

We had to leave a few fish for everyone else

Yep had to, well should say wanted to do the fathers day celebration!!

So my fault we had to go sunday a.m., we had plenty of fun by then though! we got there thu eve. Next year gooose we bring a kettlekorn maker ayy?

Woodsy Wayne

No I am not a young buck, and yes I unserstand the power of the river. I wouldn't have made a suggestion if I thought there would be any injury's or property damage. The tree in question is small and is in slack water and not a hazzard to any boats. I do believe with a little help from humans it could be sent on its ways down river. If you used the hydraulics of the river to work for you it really wouldn't take much. But I guess it can stay there as I don't fish that spot often any way. Like I said before I was just making a suggestion.
Buck

No problem Goose. Gold dog(Springer) is a sweetheart. We are enjoying having him here(temporarily). Besides he is a young dog, not enough meat yet...wouldn't of added much to the stew He does clean up nice though......



Had a blast at 4.2 Can't wait til the next one!!