You know Pautzke, you just reminded me of something I heard this weekend...

I happened to be out christmas/goodie shopping in the local sporting goods department and started to shoot the bull with another gentleman who happened to be there. He asked me if I had been to the Cow in the last couple of days beacuse apparently, he thought he had seen me down there. Anyway - he told me what I thought of as a story since I couldnt see it happening, of a time when he was there and had heard of or seen a GUN pulled on someone over a fishing spot!! Wouldn't you know it, 2 fellas next to us said they had also heard of fist-fights and stabbings as well.

I thought, that couldnt be true! Fishing is supposed to be relaxing - certainly not anything to get in an arguement about!

I'd like to find out if that was truth or fiction...but after reading this post I'm beginning to think I'm not so sure if I'm right after all. 486 people is a lot of nerves...

I was fishing from a driftboat at Blue Creek a few years back and there must have been fifty guys shoulder to shoulder and many more waiting for a spot. We watched in horror as a guy, who was wading, not wanting to loose his place, took two steps back, tucked his rod under his arm, dropped his waders and took a dump right there. He wiped with his free bare hand, splashed himself with some water and went right back to fishing. Sure glad I wasn't down stream of him. I'm not sure how I would have delt with that. About sums it up doesn't it?

Your pic are now working CF ... check the properties of the images to see the addresses that you have needed to enter

ive been to blue creek atleast 30 times over the summer and went for the first time this winter on sunday. People are always saying how bad blue creek is, but i have yet to see a fight or anything of that nature.. Can fish be caught at blue creek right now? Hell yeah.. did i hook into some fish in the 3 hours i fished hell yeah.. will people continue to go hell yeah.. .will i go again when all the other rivers are out of shape hell yeah.. and i am sure i'll see all many of the board memebers down at blue creek sooner or later.. It's not as bad as cowlitzfisher makes it out to be, sure theres a lot of people and sure fishing is tight.. but that doesnt mean people are not somewhat nice. I still had fun regardless of all the people that showed up. If you want to wet a line and maybe catch a fish i say go to blue creek.

Its not like you have to FISH right next to all the other people at the point, you could go down river more, or even fish up river... Heck you could even pimp a ride over to anderson bar or whatever i mean, theres options if you want to get away from the people and just have a good time.

Casey

No.

h2o, you took the words right outta' my keyboard!

Working hard towards brevity.

How am I doing?

I made the mistake of taking my driftboat down there last year between Christmas and New Years........never again. It is simply no fun with that many people around!

FishinSinsation

Hell yeah! Hell yeah! Hell yeah!

That almost sounds like a religion! Most people who love to fish, love the outdoors, and love the fellowship of fishing and are probably saying Hell no, Hell no, and Hell no, and probably saying a few more "Hell Mary's" also!

After reading your profile and your "birth date" (01-19-1982), its sounds like you're a pretty young and new puppy (you lucky dog!). Some us "older dogs" have already been there, and have already done that way of fishing that you may like). But many people, as hard as it is to believe, may have not yet been there and done that.

Maybe some of those people will enjoy that type of a fishery, especially when the Cowlitz is experiencing its "lowest" flows on record. But sane fishermen, (especially old guide dogs like me) have to wonder why? Its kind of like going to a "fight" and being "caught up" in the "crowd" isn't it? Or maybe it's like staying up for new-years when you don't even drink or party…right? Why do you feel the need to do it?

I got to ask you, is it being able to be "one" that comes into the boat ramp at the end of the day or trip with "a fish or two" when no one else has any, or what the heck is it that makes you think that it is so great? It's probably true, if you truly enjoy shoulder to shoulder boat or bank fishing, that Blue Creek is the "place to be". But as I have forewarned so many of you, it is quickly becoming a place of the past.

That place will be coming to an end sooner then many of you think.

Even if one (like me) likes to "keep" what they have caught (I eat fish!), there is still a hell of a lot more to "fishing" than the "experience" that you WIL BE AWAKEN TO when you fish at Blue Creek this time of the year.

OK, I have said my piece, and I will let those that choose to hammer me for what I, and many others already know!

Cowlitzfisherman

Well.

3 words:

BLUE CREEK SUCKS!

TTT

cowlitz i am just saying it sounds to me that your blowing this whole thing out of prospective, i mean granted i wouldnt want to fish blue creek everytime i go fishing, but when i am in need of a good steelie fight when i am down on my luck other places, or thats my last option i head to blue creek and HAVE FUN, not saying that its this way for everyone, heck blue creek isnt for everyone but i do enjoy going and catching fish and spending time out and way from my house when there is nothing better to do or better to fish. so yes i do think blue creek can be fun, and is fun to me

Casey

Casey

Maybe you're right; I guess it all boils down to what someone may think or consider "fun" really is!

Cowlitzfisherman

i guess what i am saying cowlitz is that all those people are there for a reason, the people who you are "trying to scare off" would be the ones to show up, and then just drive RIGHT back home.. guess you're doing them a favor but i mean, do you think much will change?

Casey

Can't keep my mouth shut. Casey I think you are right on. Iv'e been fishin for quite a while, and I've moved to other spots cause there are(too many people) where I wanted to fish. I,ve gotten upset cause everybody didn't do it the way I wanted. I've even left the river to (show em)!
What I have learned if I've learned antthing is that if I want to have a good time I have to have a good time.
Hell' things change CWF. It's not gonna be like it was. ever again. but like Casey says, its still good fishin if you can give a little and take a little. We paid our nickle too. We get to fish in your river, your welcome to fish in mine.

Is it really worth it?

I think so. Hell Yeah!

Herm

Casey
No one is trying to "scare off" anyone!!

Just trying to let the other members see for themselves what the truth is about Blue Creek…plain and simple! An owner of a store or someone else that depends on your money sure in the hell isn't going to tell you not to come if they depend on your money...right?

It's just something that isn't going to happen…it's called telling the truth! The pictures alone speak for themselves. Every fisherman must make up their own mind about this issue. If they like it, they will be there! But for the fishermen that have not been there, now they may have a choice!

What's wrong with that?

They say that knowledge is a dangerous thing…and they may be right!

Cowlitzfisherman

Herm

What the heck are smoking?

You just said; "We get to fish in your river, your welcome to fish in mine. Do you really believe you or I really "own" our own rivers?

That must be one of the main reasons why I have stuck my neck out locally and fought against the big property owners along the Cowlitz for Public access".

The fight for "Public Access" on the Cowlitz was for guys like you, not me! Hell most of the big land owners hate my guts for pushing that issue. No one owns our rivers; they belong to all of us. Some people just fight a hell of a lot harder then other to keep it that way!

I guess I could just jump into any of my boats and fish anywhere that I wanted to on the Cowlitz if I choose to do so. So what big gain was there in it for me to fight for public access for people who can't do that?

Cowlitzfisherman

Cowlitzfisherman

yeah... thats true cowlitz.. i think this subject is about done, what do you think?