Ive never fished the Cowlitz and was thinkin about tryin my luck for springers in a week or 2. Any one have any suggestions where? Ive heard of a place called blue creek, but if my memory serves me correctly it was for steelys. Any suggestions would be mucho appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

Good luck battling at Barrier Dam..

Is barrier damn my best bet and is it the only show in town? Sounds like it might be combat fishing which I have become used to. What do most people use for bait? I just looked up barrier damn on MS streets and trips and the only thing that comes up is barrier damn camp ground. Can I walk to the fishing from this camp ground?Thanks a lot!!!

You can drive right to the Barrier Dam. It's just passed the campground. You can stop at the campground store and ask directions...they're pretty nice there.

You drive into Salkum, follow the signs to the Cowlitz Salmon hatchery (not the trout hatchery...that's blue creek) and that's where Barrier is.

It will be Combat Fishing but if you can deal withthe crowds, that't the best place to hook fish.

Good Luck

If you know how to get to Blue Creek its on the same path. Follow all blue creek signs, once you get to the actual blue creek entrance, you will see the sign that says Salmon Hatchery(Barrier Dam), con't pass b.creek entrance for about 5-8 miles, signs will take you to barrier salmon hatchery. You can fish the whole stretch below the dam, along with 1,000 other guys.. Good luck.

I assume its not bad during the week? Is drifting shrimp the way to go?.Thanks a zillion!!! Are there any boat rentals available?

Barrier is an absolute zoo on the weekends right now. However, during the week you may be okay. Unfortunately, its been really slow up there as of late. Heard of 2 being caught between 8 and 11 saturday. Just get off of exit 68 and go east about 10 miles. Take a right at the salmon hatchery sign and follow it (about a mile) until it t's. Take a left and there you are....

Mr. Martin, how are you doing?

Haven't seen anything from you in a while!
Been too busy teaching to harrass the fishes?

-Nick

thanks for all the info guys...couple more questions...can u rent a boat anywhere near there, how deep is the river...i was wondering if i could cast wrapped quickies if there was enough current and it wasnt too deep, otherwise ill try shrimp or spinners...thanks again

J.K. there is no boat rentenl on the cow. The water is coming up today to 5000cfs but will drop back down tomorrow to 4000cfs.The upper part of the barrier is drift fishing the lower is plunking.when you get there you will see what I'am talking about good luck it will be combat fishing.But the fish are there it's just getting them to bite. TIGHT LINES

Thanks Cowlitz Kidd!!! Can live shrimp be purchased any where close and is camping alowed at the hatchery or do u have to camp at the barrier damn camping area?

You can buy shrimp at the Chevron on hwy 12 or at fish country or barrier dam campground. You can not camp at Barrier dam you can camp at Blue Cr. it's free but only bathrooms there no showers you can camp at Barrier dam campground don't know how much it is but the phone #is 1-360-985-2495. TIGHT LINES

Just a perception.
It seems like whenever there is a question about the Cow, there will be a bunch of positive responses.
Anyone who fishes the stretch b/w Barrier Dam to Blue Creek knows that the catch rate is not very high lately.
I have fished the Barrier dam 5 weekends in a row and scored only one fish.
Last Sunday, zero fish HOOKED for about 50 people.
Yesterday 4 Jacks caught for about 30 people.
Forgot about the 5th jack pulled in by the tail and bonked in broad daylight.
The other Sunday, zero fish HOOKED for about 50 people.

There are other places to fish for Springers beside the Cow, so it seems like most of you are directing people to the Cow to prevent pressure on the other rivers.

If this is the case, don't you think that is a bit selfish?

Ironhead,

I'm not trying to direct fishing pressure to the Cowlitz. People ask questions about it. I fish the Cowltz some, so I provide whatever information I have. It's true that I don't catch a lot of fish there, but I do catch some. And anglers who fish it more than I catch more also. It's a nice river to fish and has more room to accomodate another fisherman (except at the barrier dam) than some rivers. I don't think that's selfish at all.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

That's cool Salmo.
I am not targeting you.
It just seems really odd in general.

Ironhead, JK specifically asked about the Cowlitz. Should he be answered with...don't go there...go to x river?

Jim,
I don't mean it that way.
Just my perception of how people here are more willing to answer Cow questions and reports. Where as information for other rivers are so "Closed Lips". Could it be a reasoning to drop a "Red Herring on the Cow" in order to keep a low profile on other rivers?
Lookup the history of the Cow for these types of post to compare with other rivers and you'll see what I mean.

O.k J.K go to the Lewis, Kalama,Chehalis Wind river and Drano Lake the last to places are a zoo.Oh how about the Peninsula it's got springer in there rivers to. If he come down here to fish it put money in the pocket of lewis Co.residents and we need the money. Just wait tell summer run get going good the the hole river will be a zoo. More money in the pocket of Lewis Co. Just my two cents

well...looks like im still on the hunt...i just talked to a friend of mine whos bud fished the dam sunday and the sunday before and its as dead as a door nail. Thanks to all of u though...it sounds like it just aint happening yet at the dam and the places that are i still cant locate...there is action on the lower cowlitz, but i dont know where and ive heard that maybe thers something happening on the kalama and lewis...I thought id get lucky and have someone cough up a hot spot, but so goes my luck. I guess ya win some and lose some...i guesss its back to 7 days a week work and an early death...<<

_________________________
Engage your brain before you throw your mouth in gear!

J.K here is a good bank spot on the lower Cow it's the mouth of the Toutle River. The Toutle was running green and look good sunday. Go down I-5 to Barnes drive it's before Castle Rock go back across I-5 and passed the RV park down Barnes drive across the Toutle stay to the right the road dead end walk under I-5 and the railroad and out to the cowlitz. This is a good spot to drift fish or plunk.

U rock Cowlitz Kid...I sent u an email...thanks a zillion!!!!!

The Toutle River is closed, but the cowlitz at the mouth of the Toutle is open? Sorry, but I just needed verification...My attourney is out of town.

J.K. yes the toutle is closed tell June 1. I sent you a E-Mail.

Looks like them springers are going to be a bit easier to get at soon at the barrier. Tcl wants to lower the river to 3000 cfs so they can fill riffe by memorial day weekend. Nevermind the "native" fry in the river right now!

:rolleyes:

Micro,

Bummer. Not for the native fry, however, as there aren't many of those (wild ones anyway). However, a healthy spring flow makes for higher survival of both the hatchery and wild smolts leaving the system now. Was down there today, and it's crawlin' with hatchery steelhead smolts. I saw lots of guys shakin' them off their lines. I'd like to see the smolts move on out, as fast as possible, and high water tends to speed up their migration. Besides, 5,000 cfs has made for some good fishing conditions this past month or so.

Oh, one thing the smolts weren't hitting was 7" plug cut herring.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo g. herring dog you herring dog go it am.

salmo g were u fishing from a boat? I fished the mouth of Toutle Thursday nite and didnt see any rolling or anything, however I couldnt really fish it that well cuz i had hip waders on and could have used chestwaders to get out to the bar...Thanks again Cowlitz Kid for the lead. I think the next couple months I'm gonna do most of my fishing down there and see how it goes...Its much quicker not having to deal with the Edmonds ferry trying to get to forks. I sense that perhaps the lewis river and Kalama might even be better than the cowlitz. Anyone got any info on those rivers theyd like to share? Are they narrower than the cowlitz? Is there good bank access?..Thanks in advance!!! Jim

The best way to figure out the Kalama, and most other rivers, is to get a good quality map and drive the river looking into every pull-out or trail. It takes some time, but it is also great fun figuring out new places.

SA

JK,

Yes, I was fishing from my boat. Maybe I should have mentioned that I'm mainly a fly fisher for trout and steelhead, and I barely know diddly about salmon fishing. I just putz around at it from time to time. This is my first year giving spring chinook fishing a try. I was just getting the hang of a method on the Columbia before it closed. It's very different on the Cow, and what I'm doing doesn't "feel" right, so I know I've got a ways to go. It's really hard to stay focused, cuz I had to pass up some beautiful drifts that I could cover very effectively with my fly outfit for steelhead. But it's fun trying to learn a new trick. And springers make the best eating. Yum.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo,
Do you run an older sled with the a fly rod holder mounted on the bow?

RL

Thanks for hitting me back Salmo. Ive always enjoyed reading your posts. They always sound educated and phosisphicated. Ive always invisioned you as as the Magnum PI roomate type (always knowing and never not knowing)<<<

_________________________
Engage your brain before you throw your mouth in gear!

J.K Glad you like that spot.Fished the Cow yesturday with no luck.

Sorry to hear about no fishys Cowlitz Kid...Have u heard any reports on the Kalama or Lewis...I think i might give them a try this week...were u bank fishing?

J.k.heard the lewis was a zoo so try the Kalama.

Thanks Cowlitz Kid...The question is why was it a zoo? Perhaps many fish were being caught? Wonder if anyone has a report?

JK,

You're very welcome. Although only slightly educated, nearly everyone thinks I'm highly phosisphicated - which invariably makes me feel good. I'm only sorry I don't know enough about fishing for springers to be really useful to you. I spoke with a bonafide chinook "expert" this morning, and so far I've learned that fishing for chinook takes a whole lot more phosisphication than fishing for steelhead, which is probably why I've concentrated on steelhead the last 30 years. That, and becuz fly fishing is way simpler than this king fishing is turning out to be.

RockLizard,

I used to run an ancient wood sled, but am presently driving a new Lund, 16'. Ain't got much class, but is more practical for me. And rod holders are a problem; I've got fly rods sticking out the back, out the side, out the front. Not sure if there is a solution.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo,
That's cool, I thought it might have been you I talked to at Massey bar last week, but it looks like its not.
The guy that I talked to used the same type of rodholders that the fly guys use to transport their rods from hole to hole (the ones that mount on the hood of a truck or car). It seemed to work well for him, as he had a sled with a forward windshied.
I run a olive drab G3 flatbottom with a Yamaha on the back. Ill be sure to hollar the next time I see fly fisher zoomin around in a lund.

RL