Just wondering if there area some spots to try for some springers in the Longview area? Not looking for any GPS coordinates, I would like to maybe take a trip to do a little exploring and learning. Would this be a worth while area to go? Do many people fish this area for springers so I can get a general idea on where to start? Boat access in LV? Suggestions on what would help someone trying to learn the area? Thinking of heading down after work tomorrow and try to pick up a little learning before the crowds get to big...

Thanks in advance,

Rob

You should find good Springer fishing at the mouth of the cowlitz, mouth of the Kalama, Prescott beach (Or side of the big C), Beaver / County Line and the Island off the port of kalama. Plenty of places to launch as well depending on the size of your boat. If you have a big boat you will probably need to launch at either the Port of Kalama or Willow Grove on the west end of Longview, or cross the bridge in Longview and Launch at Rainier on the Oregon side. A smaller boat can also launch at Gerhardt Gardens on the Cowlitz in Longview, the sportsmans club or even just in side the Kalama river by the new bridge. If you were to launch in the Kalama and it's your first time, I'd recommend doing it in daylight as it has some pretty shallow spots that you need to know about and logs you need to see. But stay to the right all the way around the cabins then to the left as you leave the Kalama in to the C.R. and stay wide enough out towards the big tanker pier to avoid the sandbar.

Fished down there last weekend and marked a few fish but only saw one caught. Seals were in thick with the smelt. Hopefully the smelt and seals will thin out soon and the springer fishing should be pretty good by the end of the month.

good luck!

Thanks UM! That's exactly the stuff I want to get to know. Don't want to be the guy down there screwin the pooch when everyone is anxious to get the lines wet. Also, saves time when the fish are in.

Thanks again.

I've launched out of Willow Grove(just west of Longview), a few times. It is a great launch. They built that launch right. Easy to use even when busy. Last weekend I fished just downriver of the launch, but no luck.

From what I am looking there are spots through here?

PMart,
On your map, if you come out of the mouth of the Cowlitz and go out around Cottonwood Island, Prescott Beach is about 1/2 mile east on the Oregon side of the Columbia. Keep going east about another mile and cross back over to the Washington side and you will hit the Mouth of the Kalama. The Trojan plant will be right across the river from you. There you'd want to troll from just east of the green channel marker back towards the Cowlitz till you hit the deep hole in front of the big pier, staying in 15 - 30ft of water. Beaver / County line is west of your map. It is about a five mile run from the launch at willow grove, which is on the west side of Longview by Fisher Island.

If you ever see a Smokercraft Tracer with a 25hp Yami 4-stroke out there, say hi. I am usually at Sportsman (by Kalama) or down at Beaver.

Okay,
If memory serves me correct. Which is all the time according to my wife

You are talking about the area when you drive s on 5 you can see the spot you are talking about on the left?? I remember looking over that direction last year on a run down to the combat zone some call Drano...

I have copied all the good info you sent me so I can make myself a plan of action. If I see you I'll give you a holler. You do the same. 16' fiberform tan/tan bimini with a 40 suzuki.

Thanks for the ton of info! Saved me a couple trips down and a whole lot of hour's running around. A great head start!