Smelt dippers may return to the Cowlitz River for another day of fishing after the WDFW announced another one-day recreational smelt dip for Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The Cowlitz will be open for smelt retention from the Highway 432 Bridge at the Gearhart Dog Park upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, located about 1,300 feet upstream from the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock.
The river was opened for a day of smelt dipping on Feb. 14, for the first time in three years. That opener was considered to be a success when most dippers were able to catch a limit, which is 10 pounds per person per day.
Ten pounds is about one quarter of a five-gallon bucket.
Fishermen will be allowed to net the small, silvery smelt from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each person must dip his own fish, and keep their catch in a separate container.
According to Laura Heironimus, the WDFW Columbia River smelt, sturgeon, and lamprey lead, 35,000 pounds of smelt were harvested during the first fishery.
There will be strong law enforcement presence again for the second round, after officers ended up confiscating 500 pounds of smelt from dippers who had exceeded their limit during the first fishery.
Smelt, or Columbia River Eulachon, are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“We work with our federal partners to ensure that opening any fishery for an ESA-listed species won’t affect our ability to meet conservation goals,” Heironimus said in a news release. “We’re pleased to see the run is strong enough to support these recreational fisheries this year, and we want to make sure we can continue to offer this fishery in the future.”
No fishing license is required to dip smelt.
