FJ - I don't mind combat fishing at all.

I just throw some elbows around and people make room. :p

Dont know if you are wanting drift fishing or sled but is you are looking at a sled trip I would highly recommend Mike Kelly of Hells Anglers At 1-509-243-fish. I have been out with Mike and he is very professional. I have caught fish everytime I fished with Mike.
Aslo see his web page at:

Hells Anglers Home Page

thanks for all the help guys, like gizoman said, i am looking for a guide who will not only put me on fish, but also a guide who will give me advice and tips that i could use when not on his boat. sounds like there are a lot of quality guides on the cow. thanks.

I agree with Bob, why go to the Cowlitz when you can have serenity and some good fishing as well as company. Book a trip on river on the Olympic Peninsula.......instead of hearing sleds and guys yelling at each other, you may get you yell...fish on.....and get a "nice" fishie to slip back into the water. In other words, beautiful native full of fight!

But then again, if you can't get out there and the Cowlitz calls...it's still fishing and better than staying home and putting moss killer on the lawn. (Can you guess what I have to do?)

Ng

I'm not so sure that tere would be fewer boats on the Cowlitz than on most of the OP rivers in late winter. After the December mayhem things ususally quiet down a lot down there, especially when fishing is slow.
And the guides who stay still get into fish if they work at it. Most of them move up to the OP with everyone else and his dog.

I'd bet my favorite wiggle wart that you could count more boats on some of the Hoh, Bog, and Sol duc runs than on the Cowlitz after Jan. 15.

Would that wiggle wart be green with with all those scratches on it?

Ng

Sorry....that one is in my tackle box now....have you looked lately?

All right; I've heard of dirty tricks before, but that is going too far! I'll give you any one of my rods.. no wait.... any one of my kids, one of the smaller ones anyway, to get that plug back. Remember when Ben about went swimming for it . There was a reason. Next time we used it , it went 5-0 vs our other two various plugs.

GIVE IT BACK OR ELSE!

GS

Trade it for one Taxidermed (SP) 40 plus KIng!

LOL

Ng

Another plug here for Scott's Guide Service www.scottguides.com .

I have fished the Cow with him 5 or 6 times now, and haven't been skunked once. We catch 'em in the crowd AND away from the crowd. Plus, like Giz said, I get to fish, not just have poles handed to me.

I have been fishing the Cowlitz since the late 60's and I would have to say that Clancy Holt would be my choice on the river. He has been on the river longer than most of the guides put togeather. As with any guided trip, what you see and learn on the trip can always be used at a later date. If you are really wanting to learn something on the trip, be up front with the guide and tell them what it is you are looking for. I have done that up on the Fraser River with Harrison Bay Guide Service. Told them up front that I am there to see and learn some of the river.