If I was wanting to try and brave the crowds of other anglers and fish the cowlitz. Is it possible to fish from the bank? And would it be worth the drive from Oak Harbor?

Hey GV,

Use the search function on the forum here on things like "Directions, Blue Creek, "and "Bank fishing, Cowlitz" Just like you would run a search on Google. You'll be giving directions to people in no time!


Last time I fished down there we went 8-14 or something like that . It is hot right now and worth the drive. Bring eggs.

I was down there last thursday and friday. Thursday we fished with Rappid Robert in a boat. we caught 5. on friday I fished below Blue Creek and got on from the bank by 7am. On the way back to the parking lot I walked by to stringers with 4 fish on them and several with i. If you go fish the streach just below where Blue Creek hits the Cowlitz , or go down as far the trail goes. Just above a hole called a Mary Ellen.

Yeah, but if you fish from the bank down there below the rest of the bankies watch out for lines from the sleds boondoggin. There's nothing more frustrating than fishing high vis line and having some aholecracker on the bank toss in on top of your drift and hang up with you. It ruins your drift and the drifts of other boats.

I got hung up with Diehard or his buddy 3 times on 3 consecutive drifts on Friday. Most sleds aren't running up to the top of the drift to give the hoards of bankies room to fish. Have the same consideration for the sleds doggin...

To answer your question gvbest, yes there are a lot of fish just below BC right now, they are doing well off the bank. Just get in line with the rest of the crowd and watch how and what they are fishing with and do the same. There's other good spots to bank the Cow also that seldom see the crowds that BC gets. Mission is where I'd be banking it if I were to want to try that.

That hole called Mary Ellen is named after my grandmother. That land where the alder trees hang over the water is my family's. I'd like to thank most of the guys in the boats drifting for moving out and reeling up when we hook fish under the trees. We try to wait for the boondoggers to go by before we cast out. It's better to be pleasant with all the people down there than to start trouble and having guys trying to screw you the rest of the day. Good luck and rip some lip.