3000 cfps That many boats,no thanks.

Should get out the digi cam and take some pix for us to see.

People are friggin nuts.

Id rather go out in my back yard all dressed up in my waders and what not and cast in a make believe river. It would be far less stressfull and a better experience overall.

Yeah they're nuts, but remember this (THANK GOD FOR THE MIGHTY COW PIE), because they would all be "somewhere else" without it.

Well said Rich!!

No. I don't believe it is worth it. I refere to my post...What is your motivation?

Why do you imagine all those boats and bankies are there?? Gee, could it have anything to do with the fact that the Cowlitz is the ONLY fishable water in the state right now? Every other river is blown out, with some nearing or just cresting flood stage. They're there because it's the only game in town, and even a bad day of fishing is better than sitting home doing honey-dos.

No brainer.

you called it minibear...i think thats why the cow is on my "favorite rivers list" and i have never fished there before.

Hey CF, if the Cow is so bad (returns this year according to you) and is so over crowded, why do you continue going there, you are really beginning to sound like a broken record, why not post something new for a change

Damn CF it sounds like your married to the COW PIE. Lighten up guys this is obviously a sensitive subject to CF. I think it's cool you care so much about her though, but always talking about how horrible the fishing is going to be this year and how this is the first year of the downward spiral for the cow pie ( I hope that don't offend you when I refer to her as that) isn't going to change anything. Here's an idea if the lack of funds are there to keep the hatchery producing the amount of fish as the good ol days how about a launch fee! to add some extra green backs to the Mighty Cow Pie. You and I both know NO money NO fishies. If you care so much why don't you look into something like a parking fee at blue creek. Sounds like today the owner of that parking and boat ramp could've made a fortune. What do you think?

BRAVO CF!!!

If it wern't for stewards of the resource like yourself there would be no resource left.
There has been far too much taking of the resource and not enough given back to it.

CFM,

Yikes! Careful what statements you attribute to me. I don't think WDFW is phasing OUT the early winter run. My understanding is that if hatchery production is to be reduced, WDFW has decided the main reduction will come from the early winter steelhead program. In the ESA section 10 permit NMFS wrote for the Cowlitz and other lower Columbia hatcheries, I think WDFW was advised to increase production of late winter runs for the steelhead recovery program. There is still a lot of opportunity for early winter steelhead hatchery production. The main limitation is that the early steelhead cannot be transported to the upper river basin for natural spawning because of stock genetic issues.

There are other changes WDFW could make that would continue a productive early steelhead fishery. Maintaining the hatchery coho program at 4.3 million smolts to prop up the lower Columbia River gillnet fishery should come to a halt. That fishery is about as relevant as a dinosaur, but change doesn't seem to come easy. That program could be cut back to just augment the ocean coho fishery, with the return going to the river recreational fishery and escapement. The gillnet fishery is obsolete. Mind you, I'm not against gillnet fishing when and where it makes sense. But the lower Columbia gillnet fishery helps prevent recovery of wild coho and other runs. That is why I think it should be cut back and the hatchery space it uses should be re-allocated to other production.

We'll get there, CFM, but you know all the good changes only come with a long fight.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

What good is a parking fee going to do if it just goes into the general fund.
I think that if all the money generated by sportsmen,from buying liscenses and what not,went to hunting and fishing related projects there would be more than enough money to take care of the fisheries related problems on the Cowlitz.
Oh ya,if you park at the mission launch.I-5,or Olequa,your already paying a parking fee.Which I understand is going to Quadruple next year.Lets see how much that helps.
I honestly dont know too much about this funding stuff.But if your looking for answers about them,talk to Cowlitzfisherman.If he doesnt have the answers I'd bet money he knows where to get them.
Bob,I hope you dont mind me referring to you about this.
I just know that your way more involved and informed on this stuff than any hundred other fisheman I know.

Is it worth it? I don't know. How was the fishing at BC on Sunday? If it was the bloodbath that I've seen in years past, then "Hell yes, it's worth it"

So does anyone know if Blue Creek remains to be packed like this weekend on this fair weather Monday? Was anyone shot at ? Are lots of fish starting to be caught by the ones who venture into this zoo? I can hardly imagine what it will be like around christmas if there were already 250 vehicles up there on Saturday and Sunday.