Ive never fished the Cowlitz and was thinkin about tryin my luck for springers in a week or 2. Any one have any suggestions where? Ive heard of a place called blue creek, but if my memory serves me correctly it was for steelys. Any suggestions would be mucho appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

Good luck battling at Barrier Dam..

Is barrier damn my best bet and is it the only show in town? Sounds like it might be combat fishing which I have become used to. What do most people use for bait? I just looked up barrier damn on MS streets and trips and the only thing that comes up is barrier damn camp ground. Can I walk to the fishing from this camp ground?Thanks a lot!!!

You can drive right to the Barrier Dam. It's just passed the campground. You can stop at the campground store and ask directions...they're pretty nice there.

You drive into Salkum, follow the signs to the Cowlitz Salmon hatchery (not the trout hatchery...that's blue creek) and that's where Barrier is.

It will be Combat Fishing but if you can deal withthe crowds, that't the best place to hook fish.

Good Luck

If you know how to get to Blue Creek its on the same path. Follow all blue creek signs, once you get to the actual blue creek entrance, you will see the sign that says Salmon Hatchery(Barrier Dam), con't pass b.creek entrance for about 5-8 miles, signs will take you to barrier salmon hatchery. You can fish the whole stretch below the dam, along with 1,000 other guys.. Good luck.

I assume its not bad during the week? Is drifting shrimp the way to go?.Thanks a zillion!!! Are there any boat rentals available?

Barrier is an absolute zoo on the weekends right now. However, during the week you may be okay. Unfortunately, its been really slow up there as of late. Heard of 2 being caught between 8 and 11 saturday. Just get off of exit 68 and go east about 10 miles. Take a right at the salmon hatchery sign and follow it (about a mile) until it t's. Take a left and there you are....

Mr. Martin, how are you doing?

Haven't seen anything from you in a while!
Been too busy teaching to harrass the fishes?

-Nick

thanks for all the info guys...couple more questions...can u rent a boat anywhere near there, how deep is the river...i was wondering if i could cast wrapped quickies if there was enough current and it wasnt too deep, otherwise ill try shrimp or spinners...thanks again

J.K. there is no boat rentenl on the cow. The water is coming up today to 5000cfs but will drop back down tomorrow to 4000cfs.The upper part of the barrier is drift fishing the lower is plunking.when you get there you will see what I'am talking about good luck it will be combat fishing.But the fish are there it's just getting them to bite. TIGHT LINES

Thanks Cowlitz Kidd!!! Can live shrimp be purchased any where close and is camping alowed at the hatchery or do u have to camp at the barrier damn camping area?

You can buy shrimp at the Chevron on hwy 12 or at fish country or barrier dam campground. You can not camp at Barrier dam you can camp at Blue Cr. it's free but only bathrooms there no showers you can camp at Barrier dam campground don't know how much it is but the phone #is 1-360-985-2495. TIGHT LINES

Just a perception.
It seems like whenever there is a question about the Cow, there will be a bunch of positive responses.
Anyone who fishes the stretch b/w Barrier Dam to Blue Creek knows that the catch rate is not very high lately.
I have fished the Barrier dam 5 weekends in a row and scored only one fish.
Last Sunday, zero fish HOOKED for about 50 people.
Yesterday 4 Jacks caught for about 30 people.
Forgot about the 5th jack pulled in by the tail and bonked in broad daylight.
The other Sunday, zero fish HOOKED for about 50 people.

There are other places to fish for Springers beside the Cow, so it seems like most of you are directing people to the Cow to prevent pressure on the other rivers.

If this is the case, don't you think that is a bit selfish?

Ironhead,

I'm not trying to direct fishing pressure to the Cowlitz. People ask questions about it. I fish the Cowltz some, so I provide whatever information I have. It's true that I don't catch a lot of fish there, but I do catch some. And anglers who fish it more than I catch more also. It's a nice river to fish and has more room to accomodate another fisherman (except at the barrier dam) than some rivers. I don't think that's selfish at all.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

That's cool Salmo.
I am not targeting you.
It just seems really odd in general.

Ironhead, JK specifically asked about the Cowlitz. Should he be answered with...don't go there...go to x river?

Jim,
I don't mean it that way.
Just my perception of how people here are more willing to answer Cow questions and reports. Where as information for other rivers are so "Closed Lips". Could it be a reasoning to drop a "Red Herring on the Cow" in order to keep a low profile on other rivers?
Lookup the history of the Cow for these types of post to compare with other rivers and you'll see what I mean.

O.k J.K go to the Lewis, Kalama,Chehalis Wind river and Drano Lake the last to places are a zoo.Oh how about the Peninsula it's got springer in there rivers to. If he come down here to fish it put money in the pocket of lewis Co.residents and we need the money. Just wait tell summer run get going good the the hole river will be a zoo. More money in the pocket of Lewis Co. Just my two cents

well...looks like im still on the hunt...i just talked to a friend of mine whos bud fished the dam sunday and the sunday before and its as dead as a door nail. Thanks to all of u though...it sounds like it just aint happening yet at the dam and the places that are i still cant locate...there is action on the lower cowlitz, but i dont know where and ive heard that maybe thers something happening on the kalama and lewis...I thought id get lucky and have someone cough up a hot spot, but so goes my luck. I guess ya win some and lose some...i guesss its back to 7 days a week work and an early death...<<

_________________________
Engage your brain before you throw your mouth in gear!

J.K here is a good bank spot on the lower Cow it's the mouth of the Toutle River. The Toutle was running green and look good sunday. Go down I-5 to Barnes drive it's before Castle Rock go back across I-5 and passed the RV park down Barnes drive across the Toutle stay to the right the road dead end walk under I-5 and the railroad and out to the cowlitz. This is a good spot to drift fish or plunk.