First, I am not sure I like the rating system. You can have a great outing or day on the water and catch no fish. I wonder if the rating system should be based on the overall experience? Anyway that said here’s my report. I fished the Cowlitz for a few hours Sunday morning. I started upstream from the Blue Creek boat launch. As the morning went on I fished various areas upstream from the launch, the mouth of Blue Creek, then moved upriver to the Barrier Dam and fished a number of areas between the dam and the Barrier Dam boat ramp. I didn’t catch anything but it was an interesting day and any day fishing is a great day. Exception to that is the combat fisheries anywhere. In this case, the mouth of Blue Creek and the tail out just down from the “No Fish” line at the Barrier Dam. I know they weren’t as crowded as they could be but I just don’t like shoulder to shoulder fishing.

Throughout the morning I stuck with a float and jig. Typically Pink and white, pink and cerise or orange and cerise jigs. I had planned to fish borax cured eggs also, but some knucklehead left them sitting on top of the cruiser (I loose more coffee cups that way) and they disappeared. I talked to a number of other fishermen and they all said that bank access fishing was off on Sunday; mostly blaming Saturday’s weather for the fish being lock jawed.

One final comment; as I hiked into the mouth of Blue Creek I couldn’t but help notice the incredible amount of garbage along trail. It was appalling! I don’t know if dumping trash along the trail is characteristic with the mentality of people that enjoy combat fishing (the same condition existed at the tail out just down from the “No Fish” line at the Barrier Dam, also a combat zone) but I was very disappointed to find beer cans, energy drink cans, fast food wrappers, cigar butts, plastic grocery bags full of empty deli containers (at least they put their empty containers the grocery bag before they tossed it in the woods along the trail), tons of discarded tackle wrappers and even a broken net. What’s going on? Would these people toss their trash in their yard or their neighbor’s yard? Anyway on the way out I grabbed as much trash as I could carry. Unfortunately my effort did not even begin to make a dent in the amount of trash along the trail. Geese…to whom it may concern, haul your trash out!!!

Bob R

3/30/2009 3:29:00 PM

I have a friend who grew up fishing the Cowlitz, told me a story of a "fisherman" who he watched chuck a beer bottle as he walked in. As my friend was with his teen-age son he politely as possible asked this 'guy" where he got off throwing his trash around like that and before you know it this ******* "person"wanted to re-arrange his face! Lumps and disgrace for these trashers of our resources!

Mike Carey

3/30/2009 8:14:00 PM

I understand your concern about the rating system and admit to it's imperfect nature. We decided that we want the rating to be a way to collect historical data to develop trends and report tools. Heck, I agree, just going fishing makes for a good day. We did a clean up at Blue Creek years ago. If you search the Stories and Articles you'll find it. Sorry to hear it's messed up again.

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save