Have fished the Cowlitz over twelve days without a fish on. I have pulled plugs, drifted pink worms and drifted eggs. I think the only technique I have not tried for at least a half day is scuba gear and an ice fishing rod equipped with 2 feet of 100 lb. line and gaff hook. If the fishing really that poor then why is catch and kill even legal right now and if it is not then what the hell is wrong with me. The anglers around me have not been slaying them but have been catching fish. Maybe the cowlitz is just a crappy steelhead river but I am more inclined to think that I am just a crappy steelheader. The frustration is getting to the point that lakes and trout (non-seagoing) are looking more and more attractive. HHHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!!!

[This message has been edited by wit45cal (edited 01-09-2000).]

Hey Wit45cal
Don't give up? Its not just you,half the people going down there right now aren't getting any either, it's been alot of luck involved. Plus you'll notice most of the guys / guides that are getting them have 3-6 people in the boat, that gives them a large advantage over you and me with just one other person in the boat. You probably live right down the street from me? If you want we could arrange to meet some where and swap lie's, I've got all the details for free drifting if your interested.
See Ya Fish.

Wit45cal- email me with the details on where in the cowlitz you are fishing and how you are fishing, maybe I can help. I fished the cowlitz on saturday, hooking 5 before getting my second fish. However, this weekend was much slower than last overall!
Canyon Man

Maybe you are just not cut out to fish for steelhead

Noodle- I would tend to agree if I did not have pictures of five fish caught in less than six hours ranging from 14 - 22 lbs. If I wasn't confident that it really was me with over 20 steelies in the boat over a weekend, you would be right. Those times were not, however on the COW but rather on the clearwater in ID. Funny, the fish move 500 miles across 8 dams to get there and more fish get through.......

Cal you're just going through a slump. All steelheaders go through this once in a while. The best way to get over it is to hang in there and when it breaks you'll appreciate steelheading once again. Duck

P.s. I'm in a slump now too!!!!!

Hey Noodle Rodder,
If your fishing skills are like your social skills, the fish are safe....stay home!!!

A lot of the boaters have not been going gang-busters on the Cowlitz over this holiday period, although Blue Creek is getting some pretty good fish numbers. Its probably not you, but the river flows. The Cowlitz seems to float best between 8,000-10,000 cfs. Anything higher and there's too much water for the fish to travel in, too much water to cover; anything lower and you get spooky fish. The river was running well over 10,000 for most (all?)of December/January.

Try floating it when it drops or sword fight with everyone else at Blue Creek, and you'll probably have a lot more luck. Tight lines.

Hey Noodle Rodder
Just wondering how do you know if your cut out or not? I've been steelheading for 20 years now, and I'm not sure?
Thanks Fish.

Hey Noodle Rodder, you know you just get more annoying every time you write to this bulletin board, so do something im sure everybody would agree with, SHUT UP AND FISH !!!!!

Steelheading is a matter of skill brought by persistence... Most beginners don't just start pulling fish right away.. I have COUNTLESS days where I walk in and fish a particular part of a hole, that there are already 3 guys in, and BOOM, first cast, third cast... stuff like that.. a hole that has been covered for 2 hours straight! It's a matter of knowing what to use, and how to hold your rod, angle, etc, to get your gear to properly swing through the hole. This actually happens to me a lot... It's kinda fun, but does tend to piss a few guys off... It tends to happen mostly on the Lyre and Elwah... Two rivers I know VERY well.

As for you, Noodle Rodder, I think you need an attitude or at least a common sense adjustment....

Tom

Hey Noodle Rodder, if you have it all figured out, fill us in. I have been doing this for 24 years now, and I learn something everytime I go fishing. If you don't, somethings wrong. It's all trial and error, and you get better with time and repetition. Duck was right, sometimes your just in a funk, and don't have the "feel" that you normally do. If you want to be-little a guy who is looking for some answers, hop off of this board, and go post on the steelhead site "wisconsin stream reports", you'll fit right in. The guys on this board are here to help wherever they can, so put a lid on it and listen. Merry Christmas.

Hey Noodle Rodder, if you have it all figured out, fill us in. I have been doing this for 24 years now, and I learn something everytime I go fishing. If you don't, somethings wrong. It's all trial and error, and you get better with time and repetition. Duck was right, sometimes your just in a funk, and don't have the "feel" that you normally do. If you want to be-little a guy who is looking for some answers, hop off of this board, and go post on the steelhead site "wisconsin stream reports", you'll fit right in. The guys on this board are here to help wherever they can, so put a lid on it and listen. Merry Christmas.

Give it up! There must be something wrong with the fishing move on to a different river. There's hopefully not a slump that can last that long.

Every river has it tricks and perfect conditions. Keep an eye on the people catching fish. Or you could do what my friend John does. He buys a bag of Fyuns and opens it on the way to the river...He swears it is good luck.--fish on
--mike korenko

Wit I land my frist steelhead on the cow and will always fish there You are right to pull plugs when it is high like this free drift when it 10000 or less I don't even take my boat this time of year but I only have a drift boat you may have seen me on saterdays achored in one spot all day the fish won't be far from there. keep trying the baot have not had a good year .If you want you can e-mail me at kc21495@aol.com

Don't be sad. I have hooked 5 steelhead this winter, but have failed to land a single one!
This is highly unusual since I cannot even remember losing a fish once hooked, it had been so long (emphasis upon had). Even summer-runs I hooked on the Green the past few years on two pound test came to the shore! Talk about frustrating and being in a slump!

Wit45cal, try working on the little things. Wash your hands periodically during the day. Try tweaking your egg cure a little bit or adding an odd bait oil to the cluster on your hook, like squid or earthworm. Remember, the Cowlitz fish are pounded day in and day out by the professionals. Maybe try lengthening your leaders or serving them something different. Hint: try freedrifting with a whole 18 ct sandshrimp instead of eggs. Rig it with double 4 black gammys on 6 or 8 lb leader. Then add two 3mm beads and a tiny birdie.

Stay with it Wit, I have had plenty of days on the river where I haven't hooked a fish all day and am near the tail end of the float when persistence finally paid off with a fish. Every steelheader gets skunked, even the very best. It will really make you savor those mutltiple fish days though.

Wit,

If even the best of us get skunked, then I must be AWESOME!!!! Having never caught one yet (as most of you may know I'm a newbee), I can feel your pain but I enjoy every trip!