Alright, listen up, y’all. Let me tell ya ’bout this Cowlitz fishin’ thing. I ain’t no fancy writer or nothin’, but I know fishin’, and I know the Cowlitz River, kinda sorta.
So, this here Cowlitz Fishing Report, that’s what they call it, I reckon. It’s all about what kinda fish you can catch and where. Now, I ain’t been everywhere on that river, mind you, it’s a long one. But I hear tell of some good spots.
They say you can catch all sorts of fish in that Cowlitz. Steelhead, that’s a big one. And salmon, oh my, them salmon are somethin’ else. Chinook they call ’em, and Coho too. Folks are catchin’ ’em, that’s for sure. But they say you gotta let the Chinook go, can’t keep ’em. Don’t know why, rules are rules I guess.
Now, where to go fishin’, that’s the big question, ain’t it? I heard of this place called Massey Bar. Sounds like a place where you can get a drink, but it ain’t. It’s a fishin’ spot, ha! They say it’s easy to get to, down some road or other. Spencer Road, then Buckley somethin’. You go there, and you might catch yourself a steelhead or even a sturgeon, them big ol’ bottom feeders. They got restrooms there too, which is nice, ’cause a lady like me needs her comforts, ya know?
- Steelhead: Big and strong, fight like heck.
- Chinook Salmon: Can’t keep ’em, but fun to catch.
- Coho Salmon: Tasty, they say. Good eatin’.
- Sturgeon: Big and ugly, but some folks like ’em.
Them fellas at the fishin’ store, they tell ya all sorts of things. They say the Cowlitz is open for fishin’ all year round, ’cause the fish, they run at different times. Steelhead in the spring and fall, and salmon too, somethin’ like that. They talk about “hatchery” this and “hatchery” that. Means the fish were raised in a tank, I think. But a fish is a fish, I say, long as it bites my hook.
Now, I ain’t no expert on all them fancy fishin’ words, ya know? “Dodgers” and “wedding rings”? Sounds like somethin’ you’d wear to a dance, not somethin’ you’d use to catch a fish! But folks use ’em, and they catch fish with ’em. They troll the river, that means they drag their lines behind the boat, slow and steady. And they catch fish, big ones too! Kokanee, they call ’em, little silver fish. Good eatin’, I bet.
They got this Blue Creek place too, part of the Cowlitz. I ain’t been there, but I heard it’s good fishin’. Kelso, Vancouver, them towns are near the river. You can find places to fish all over. Just gotta look around, ask around. Don’t be shy.
This river, the Cowlitz, it comes down from them mountains, the Cascades. Goes through a bunch of lakes, Scanewa and Riffe and Mayfield. Then it flows free, and that’s where the fish are, most of ’em anyway.
So, if you wanna go fishin’ on the Cowlitz, that’s the gist of it. Go to Massey Bar, or Blue Creek, or wherever you can find a spot. Use a dodger or a wedding ring, or just a plain ol’ worm, whatever works. And be patient, ’cause fishin’ ain’t always easy. But when you finally reel one in, oh boy, it’s somethin’ special. It’s excitin’. Makes you feel alive. Even an old lady like me, I still get a thrill out of it.
And remember to check them fishin’ reports, hear? They tell ya what’s bitin’ and where. Helps you catch more fish. That’s what this whole Cowlitz Fishing Report thing is about.
Now, I gotta go, got some chores to do. But you go on and fish. And good luck to ya!
Tags: [Cowlitz River, Fishing Report, Steelhead, Salmon, Kokanee, Massey Bar, Blue Creek, Kelso, Vancouver, Washington, Fishing Spots]
