I'm looking for a report from the Cowlitz. Can anyone give me an update on the summer steelhead fishing?

Thanks,
FreeDrifter

Lots of fish in the river I have hit fish every time down but plan on working for them the sleds get them spooked fast this weekend it was glowballs or not at all I hit for lost one boated two and handed off my rod for the last one. Hope this helps

definately fish in the river,but with the river so low they spook fast and the bite is off.good luck scott

i was also wondering what the brand name is of the green high vis line most of the free drifters use? scott

What a zoo!!!! Fished this weekend, all we did was get our lines ran over and corked off all day long. Watched one guy in a new looking willie with a yamaha, run on a gravel bar above the cabin hole. Watched another guy run into the rocks. Don't people look before they leap? We did hook 2 fish which I felt pretty lucky after all the boat traffic.

Fishndude

Scotty,
Stay away from the flourecent lines, whether they are green, yellow or pink. A lot of the guides are using these because it helps them see and control there clients lines when they are free drifting. I went out with a guide freind of mine a couple days ago and gave him a bad time about his bright green line. He said it didn't matter until fished from the front of the boat, which is the last bait through and hooked 5 of the 7 fish we hooked. I like to use Stren Magnathin in the 10 pound moss green, along with a 4-5 foot 6 or 8 pound ultragreen leader. Another kicker keep your baits real small, like ones that barely cover a size 4 hook, especially when you are fishing on spooked fish or fish that have been pounded.
Keith

Are you going to be fishing off foot or in a sled? It makes a difference. I don't know much about the sleds, other than that there are a lot of them, and they're not all piloted be real nice guys. If you've found a good drift, and a guide decides that he'd like to fish it, be prepared to get your line ran over, and don't expect an appology. The Cowlitz guides kind of have this little click, and they honestly feel that because of the fact that they fish it every day, they own the river. They are more than willing to tell you how they feel. I had one of the more successful Cowlitz guides tell me "You should always get out of the way when you see a guide boat coming, the guides have more right to be on the river than the recreational fisherman does. You guys are just out to have a good time, for us guides, this is what pays our bills, so we deserve these fish more than you do." Be prepared to deal with this kind of stuff if your going to be fishing from a boat. Usually, what I do this time of year, is walk in to Blue Creek, early in the morning,go all the way to the end until you can't go any further, and try to scrap a couple of fish before the sleds get on the river. There are lots of fish in the river right now, but a combo of low water and Jet boats can make the fishing tough. Good luck!

FD, went to Cow on Sat. with my son and a friend. We saw more fisherman and sleds than we saw fish on. RRat had some nice fish that he got on Glow Balls in the dead of night. We were there between 5:30 AM and Noon, had 1 on and saw 3 other fish on. Good Luck and pack your patience you will need it.

Scotty, most of the guides are using Suffix Andie or Izor line, Suffix also manufactures Izor.

Scott

thanks for the advice guys. scott