Looking for some help. Trying to get my Dad to get in my drift boat for an introduction to drift fishing. Not looking for fishing info or crowds. I just want to take him for a short ride on the Cowlitz as it is close to home for him. What's the least crowded decent water to cover on the Cowlitz? I'm thinking from the Barrier Dam to Blue Creek. Any info would be appreciated!

That could be busy as the river gets fished alot there. How about trying from Mission to the I5 Bridge. Its a nice drift with lots of fishy water and less presure.
Keep The Rivers Clean!!!

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dank

That is a really pretty drift. I seldom see too much traffic up there. Certainly less than BC to the Mission. The River moves along at a pretty good clip. We drifted it about two weeks ago. No fish, few people, but a ton of smolt. Leave the bait at home!
Jeff "Fishguts"

Fishguts, are you referring to the Barrier Dam to Blue Creek as being a nice run, or the Mission to I-5 that kalamabama is referring to? How long does each of these drifts take. Thanks again!

P.S. How do you tell the river levels here? The USGS page does'nt make sense to me????

Geez;
Sorry Cracker.
I was referring to the Barrier Dam to Blue Creek. It's a pretty easy drift. We fished it on Saturday 22 July after hanging out on Anderson bar most of the day. We were camped at Blue Creek (BC) and just left the boat on the water to fish the next morning.

The upper part of the river doesn't seem to get as much pressure as BC to the Mission. I haven't fished it a lot, because I never seem to do as well up there as the area around BC. But it sure is a hell of a lot more peaceful. Instead of 50 sleds you might see 3 or 4.

It was really loaded with steelhead smolt and small cutthroat. One of the guys I was fishing with was having a great time catching them, so we took away his bait. We still hit a few on just corkies and yarn.

It seems that a large majority of the driftboats are laying up on Anderson Bar, just below Blue Creek. This is a secret hole that only about 40,000 or so people know about, so dont let it out of the bag.

Even a hack like myself caught one there.(Anderson Bar) I got a great picture, even put it on one of those coffee cups. My good friend the "Smurf" (he who fishes without waders, you know, blue feet!) got one the follwing weekend. We have been mostly doing hook and release ... with #14 pink corkies, pink yarn on 6 or 8 flurocarbon.

Good luck to you and your Father.

Fishguts


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I Wish I were standing in a River,
In the Rain, (wearing waders, of course!)
Catching Steelhead.


[This message has been edited by Fishguts (edited 08-07-2000).]

Right On Fishguts! Thanks for all the info. I'll be sure not to let anyone know about the honeyhole!!! Hope your friend with blue feet does'nt wade too deep!

I used to live in Kelso and had an office right on the Cowlitz on westside highway between Castle rock and the mouth. Each year there are two guides that run this section with two trips per day. The drift right in fron to of our office has produced limits on several trips to include four passes and four hookups. We used to watch the guide boat from the deck of our building. This particular drift is located about one mile north of the Allen street bridge in Kelso. In fact, the entire stretch above the bridge to the first bend produces a fair amount of fish. Rarely do we see anyone but the two guide boats fish these waters. The locals do some bank fishing from the westside highway side of the river. You could lauch from Gearhart??? ramp near the mouth of the river and proceed up from there or lauch in Castle Rock and go down. This would be a mellow ride and probably produce some fish as well.