Cowlitz river smelt

[Sthao92]

Now that they opened a very limited smelt dipping season, I guess you can call it. Anyone on here plan on giving it a try. I know my relatives are eager to go out and try it.

[natetreat]

Yes! Mike knows how I feel about sardines.

[Bodofish]

AGGGHHHHH!!!! Blech!! Urrrggghhh! Hahahahahahahahaha, just kidding, you're always in good company when it comes to sardines. They are tasty little buggers.
Although in the past few years, despite my love for the little buggers, I've cut back on eating them and kippers. Sardines, Anchovies and Herring are the food of the ocean and a large part of our anadromous species diet when out to sea. One of PS's big problems is the State (gov.) let many different groups (many not State resident's) fish the "garbage" and or "by catch" species. Not good for our local big fish.
I still like to nosh on a sardine or kipper on a cracker.

[racfish]

I haven't done smelt dipping in many years. I had this 16' net I used. Sometimes youd lose half just trying to bring them in. I imagine that is not a worry anymore. Fried smelt? I can eat them all day.I don't even clean smaller ones.I always save some for salmon season.I love eating the kippers ,sardines,pickled herring . Great fishing food.

[Steelheadin360]

Is this like raking smelt in the Sound or something totally different?

[Mordalphus]

Yes like smelting in the sound, they spawn in freshwater.

I love them, taste so good pan fried, especially full of eggs.

[obryan214]

Is this like raking smelt in the Sound or something totally different?

on the river you dip them in a big net with small holes instead of impaling them on the rake. about as effective though.

[MarkFromSea]

pretty short... read it last week.. something like 6 am till noon, saturday only till Mar 1? so, dip for 6 hours for up to 10 pounds.. 3 more saturdays?. commercials have more opportunity as well, 7 hours per day allowed.

[obryan214]

from the report is todays tacoma news tribune it sounds like it isn't worth the effort.

[MarkFromSea]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/02/0 ... urday.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[obryan214]

here is the report from feb. 12 news tribune.

Smelt: Only a half-dozen people were seen dipping Saturday in the Cowlitz, and they had no catch on the first of four Saturdays dipping is allowed. The river is open Saturdays 6 a.m.-noon through March 1. Dip nets used from the bank only. The daily limit is 10 pounds per person.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/02/1 ... Newsletter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;#storylink=cpy

[MarkFromSea]

here is the report from feb. 12 news tribune.

Smelt: Only a half-dozen people were seen dipping Saturday in the Cowlitz, and they had no catch on the first of four Saturdays dipping is allowed. The river is open Saturdays 6 a.m.-noon through March 1. Dip nets used from the bank only. The daily limit is 10 pounds per person.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/02/1 ... Newsletter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;#storylink=cpy

Thanks! I do love frying up smelt, but, if they aren't there..... razor clams baby! Feb 26 ect ect.... Last dig was good to us!