I just talked with a diehard cow fisherman and he has caught over 15 fish that went 19lb plus this year. Also fish country has a 21lb fish leading the derby with a 19 in second. It isn't the fast and the furious but some nice fish are being taken. I just don't agree with what you've been preaching. Considering the statewide conditions the cowlitz ain't doing all that bad.
I'm not trying to start something here I just want your take on this due to your undying love of this river.
glow

Just curious CFM,Finally, you said "Considering the statewide conditions the cowlitz ain't doing all that bad." Well you right, but when you consider how many smolts have been released, you may want to reconsider your thoughts! You should be seeing the returns now from the release of 635,000 early Winter run, 85,000 late Winter run, 430,000 Summer run. That's a total of 1,150,000.00 smolts that should be coming back. And that is not including any "natural" late run smolts that were released that past through the new Cowlitz Falls Fish Collection Facilities.

Well any idea what happend to all of them? Hatchery lied or El Nino?

By the way I agree with you, that it is slow, dead slow.

15 fish over 19lbs. I'd have to see em to believe it...

I'm curious CFM, I remember reading an early post from someone who said they did quite well glowballing at Blue Creek - I think he said they hooked a dozen or so fish. If this is true, do you think that with the river running so low that the fish are spooked more than in past years and that could be part of the poor fishing?

When we do the clean up this weekend our plan is to glowball Friday evening/night so that'll be a test I guess. Just wondering if you had any thoughts on this theory.

What happened to all the smolts then? I know the survival rate is less than 2% but that is still 23000 fish or so.
You're right about the 15 19lbers, but the guy not known to be a bull$hitter. I said the same , Have to see to believe. He says he has pics so I guess i will see. The derby fish don't lie though.
Oh well I just wanted to let you give your fingers a work out and see what they come up with.
Have a good one cow.
GLOW