Smelt Update

[Doryman]

But have you smelt them?

(Sorry, couldn't resist. )

[Charlie one shoe]

Hey guy's, just want to let you know that surf smelt are good eating. But I do think that surf smelt and river smelt are different. Those that are caught on the ocean beaches are called " white bait " by the old Italian fishermen here in Calif, they are caught with dip nets or Hawaiian throw nets and the limit is 25lbs ( that's a lot of smelt)

To prepare for cooking, wash good to get all sand off then you can make a slit in the belly and with your thumb just flick out the guts or the way I prefer just wash well, use your favorite breading, fry whole fish in hot oil in deep fryer or frying pan. Don't over cook maybe 3 to 4 minutes till nice and brown. Cook a few at a time don't over crowd pan.

Now here is the best part, when ready to eat just pinch off the tail and give the head a couple twists and pull, the guts, backbone all come out in a neat little package. All meat, no bones ... just eat and enjoy.

Charlie

[CW]

When you see this, you know the smelt are in. The harbor seals swim up to the mouth of the Cowlitz River (approx. 80 miles upstream from the ocean). Terns cloud the sky. C.W.

[CW]

They're here!

Test dipping today confirmed smelt are present in the lower Cowlitz. Bank
dipping near the Longview Bridge produced about 15 fish in a dozen dips. Up to
3 fish per dip. Mixture of size including some large specimens. A more
complete report will follow.

Reminder - WA Tributaries - Sport dipping is only allowed on the Cowlitz River,
from 6 AM to 10 PM Saturdays through March 31st. The daily limit is 10 lbs per
person per day. This is equivalent to ¼ of a 5-gallon bucket.

At least 2 spring chinook were landed in last night's mainstem Columbia
commercial sturgeon fishery. The fish were landed at Skamokawa.

[CatyMae n Steve]

B~C Ken....are you conducting evening classes Saturday? If you have more than will fit in your freezer, we can help...I have a freezer that's strictly for bait (gotta edit this, as it now holds elk too) I actually got the freezer when there were no herring available one year...drove to California and bought 6 cases ... so I could help out with the salmon needs

Caty

[B~C]

good to hear some of the little slime balls are coming back, I hope this isn't the peak run.

Caty- I just don't think I have many smelt dipping maniacs in the class this year. I'll put out the word and see what shows up.

[CatyMae n Steve]

Well, it looks like Steve''s shooting match may be rescheduled, freeing us up Saturday Translation: Maybe I can convince him we need to go see if we can net a few!

Caty

[CW]

Well we tried today and didn't get sh*t. We saw a few dipped from shore, but most nets were empty and a successful dip was one fish out of ten dips. I broke down and bought 2 lbs. at $6 per lb. (my buddy had to point out that good steak was cheaper) from a commercial guy in the parking lot and then we fished for sturgeon in 60 ft. by the old Trojan Nuclear plant and I got one shaker..... about 7 lbs. (38-40") and that was the first fish I've caught on my new Avet reel. Still, the sun was shining and it was fun to be on the water. Can't wait for spring! C.W.

[CatyMae n Steve]

We didn't go...I checked Bob's late yesterday morning and we decided a couple smelt and 2 sore backs wasn't worth the gas money it'd take to get there and back...maybe next weekend

Caty