I have fished Blue Creek plenty out of my boat and on the bank but I have never been to Barrier dam at all. The regs on the area are confusing when I looked in the book. Is it open to fishing out of a boat? or is it a bankie show? Can you fish off of the bank across from the boat launch? Basically I am just looking for a little bit of a clue before I head down there. Thanks!

Fishing from a boat is illegal above the boat launch .. You can use a boat to run up stream to fish the south side to the white marker 400 feet below the barrier dam..

The current on this stretch of the Cowlitz is on the South side. If the river is high it can be a challenge especcialy if you have a big fish on. Some fisherman use 15-20lbs test. Many a bank fisherman who do fish on that side have to make a long walk downriver, I have seen them go as far as the Boatramp!!! I have never fished the south side but when the bank is elbow to elbow its the place to be. In the fall they slam the Kings and silvers. Good luck.

If I recall correctly, fishing from the south side (access via boat) is illegal starting 1 May...that's Wednesday. But, there will be lots of room there tomorrow

O.K., so I can't fish where I wanted to, where should I go on the Cow. to get into a springer or two out of my sled on Friday morning?

Well I'll give it a shot. They are taking springers at the dam so that might be one place to target and if I did I'd start with some plug backtrollin' (wrapped KFish or Mag Warts) just below the ramp (that's the boat deadline) and workin' your way downriver into the tailout. Make that pass a few times and if that don't work move downriver to Baker Rock (big slow deep hole) and throw the same stuff at em'. Below that the stretch that runs past the RV park can be good for backtrollin' also. Next stretch below the RV park will work too. Now if the plugs don't work, there's always boondoggin' the same stretches of water.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff
PS,
I posted this on another board and had a response that people workin' the stretch by the RV park were doing well. Hope this helps ya out.