For those of you wanting to get some mega smelt for eating (yuk!) or Sturgie bait, they showed up today in the lower Cowlitz at Gearhart Gardens around 1:00 or 2:00 PM.

One lucky guy was there and got his limit in 30 minutes when I showed up.
I emailed Aunty M and she posted it on the site I asked her to and I guess she spaced it and forgot to post here.

Anyhow, it was slow in the lower river when i went back to pick up my brother and his pontoon boat but I found them tonight at Rocky Point at around 7:30PM and was done at 8:00PM.

Took a friend there at 9:30PM and he got his just in time for the 10:00PM curfew.

Hopefully this is the start of the main run and not just a little shot.

What was probably the "pilot" run came in at the same timing as the Portland Sportsman Show.
They were reported to be mostly males (jacks) .

These are mostly females.

I'll be out there tomorrow and if someone is needing info they could try Bob's@ (360) 425-3870 or my cell@ (360) 560-0201.

The bio's said that the indicators were good off Vancouver Island and other places and it should be a good one this year.
They also said that on some years the smelt don't materialize until March.

Give these guys some credit and although the optomism was running low, I kept reminding folks of this on the other site and here they are.
Hopefully it is a good sustained run.

But before you spend a $1.75+ a gallon for gas and drive all the way down here from Beiruit, give me or someone else a call.

Dano

You are very generous Dano.

Thank You

Pretty easy limits, gorgeous weather, sunny and warm, not a whole lot of dipper's, what an awesome day.

Ran into wannacathem from the other site and him and his wife got easy limits also.

We were just above the old Longview/Kelso bridge by the water plant/intake and they were right at our feet.
I was going too far out with my net until Paul told me they were right on the shorline.
Sometimes you would even see them swimming upstream.

Just drove by there and the guys were still getting them.
For an update check here or call Bob's in Longview or Carnival Market.

Dano

Dumb question -- what do you do with these little buggers? Eat 'em? Plug-cut them for salmon? Crab bait?

Ahhh... a chance to post on something that's not controversial... last year I smoked a bunch of columbia river smelt using the Luhr Jensen smoky smelt brine recipe.... then used my brand new Big Chief and had them in for 5 hours.

Found out there is one more use for CR smelt than bait. Smoked smelt, via the smokey smelt brine, are very, very tasty. I opened some of the bait bags and smoked them afterwards.

What is the best method for freezing? Aunty M

Any idea how long this run will last, or how long it normally goes? I'm planning on being in Kelso on the 18th and 19th. Is that too late? If so I'll head down earlier.

Thanks.

Can't beat a handfull of smoked smelt and a fine micro brew.