Smelt dipping will return to the banks of the Cowlitz River as Washington Division of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) authorized leisure fisheries for Wednesday, March 12, and Saturday, March 15.
Dip-netting can be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day.
“After careful consideration of this year’s smelt run size, we’re excited to offer multiple dipping opportunities in the Cowlitz River,” mentioned Laura Heironimus, WDFW’s Columbia River smelt lead. “Below average water temperatures delayed this year’s run, though recent fishery data indicates the run size is large enough to support recreational harvest.”
When the fishery is open, fishers can dip-net from the shore of the Cowlitz River from the Freeway 432 Bridge close to Kelso upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, situated roughly 1,300 ft upstream of the Freeway 411/A Road Bridge in Citadel Rock.
It’s illegal to reap smelt from a vessel.
An in depth map, together with fishing boundaries and fashionable entry areas, is obtainable on the Cowlitz River smelt fishing webpage.
A present Washington fishing license is required to dip-net for smelt. A Washington mixture, freshwater, or short-term license is legitimate. Non-residents should additionally possess a sound Washington fishing license. Youngsters 14 and underneath don’t want a fishing license.
Every dip-netter is allowed to maintain a every day restrict of as much as 10 kilos of smelt. For reference, 10 kilos of smelt fills a few quarter of a five-gallon bucket, although anglers are suggested to deliver their very own scale to maintain monitor of their catch.
Fishers should preserve all smelt they internet no matter dimension, intercourse, or situation. Every harvester should be actively collaborating and is required to make use of a separate container to carry their catch, which should be of their presence or marked with their title.
WDFW Enforcement can be current for public security and to implement smelt fishing laws, together with the license requirement, 10-pound restrict, and separate container requirement. Indicators can be posted reminding fishers of the license requirement and laws.
WDFW employees may also be current to gather organic information from smelt harvested in the course of the fishery. Information collected from the leisure fishery supplies invaluable info that helps WDFW be taught extra concerning the run, enhance monitoring, and meet conservation objectives
Fishery managers will proceed to watch the run dimension and leisure harvest to find out if future tentative dates may be authorized. The subsequent replace will happen Friday, March 14 to think about March 19 and March 22 leisure fisheries. The smelt fishing season closes after March 22.