 COWLITZ DAILY FISHING REPORTDated 1/30/12The river level is about 9900 cfs today and the fishing has been good at Blue CReek even wiith the high than normal water levels. This would be agood time to be using Intruder patterns, Ho Bo Flies, Big BH Wooly Buggers and shrimp patterns with heavy sinking tips and weighted fly lines. The water from last week has left good numbers of steelies in the runs below Blue Creek and some of these fish are on the large size. Dated 1/12/12  A beautiful very cold morning at Blue Creek boat launch. Air temp about 25 degrees and river flow at 10000 cfs.  Ray Johnson fighting a chrome winter steelie on his new Sage Fly Rod. Dated 1/12/12 Dated 1/8/12  Brad reid with a nice steelie from the Middle Cowlitz River 1/8/12 The flyfishing on the Cowlitz has been good from Blue Creek and below. The area at Blue Creek boat launch has been a mess due to over crowding. Remember to stay a good distance from othe anglers while fishing and keep moving through the water to maximize your chances of a fresh fish. Current river level is 6700 cfs with a slight rise next week to 7000 cfs. These are excellent levels for winter steelhead fishing so make sure you take care of this opportunity asap. Dated 10/31/11  Tom Dipola from Cowlitz Fly Anglers with a nice Cowlitz Chinook. Dated 10/31/11  Tom Dipola landing his 23 pound Chinook. Dated 10/31/11  Tom releasing his chinook into the Colwitz River. Dated 10/31/11  Larry Reynolds looking for another fish to land. Dated 10/31/11 Dated 10/25/11  A nice Cowlitz river Chinook caught by Sean. 10/26/11  Chrome bright silver 17 pounds caught on the lower river. 10/28/11 Dated 10/20/11  A nice set of fly rod caught cuthroat and steelie from the Cowlitz River. Date 10/20/11  A black and orange The Cowlitz has been alittle slow on Cutthroat this fall but there are fish being caught by diligent trout anglers using flies. These fish may not show in bigger numbers till Late October or November depending on weather and river levels. Keep watching.  Small flower along the Cowlitz River with spider web. Dated 10/18/11  The new fly club in Longview, Washington Cowlitz Fly Anglers prepares for their second outing on the Cowlitz river. Dated 10/17/11  Cowlitz Fly Anglers president Roger Simpson(Right) gathering with the club infront of Black Heron Fly Fishing at 4:30am before their 2nd outing. Meetings for the Cowlitz Fly Anglers are held at the Monticello Hotel in Longview, Washington every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:oopm. Anyone interested may contact Black Heron Fly Fishing at 360-575-3970 or email John Kendall at johnkendall_56@msn.com The trip was a success with a nice 18 pound summer steelie being caught by George Foshee and Russell stevens catching a nice 10 pound steelie. Tom Dipola managed a nice bright silver below Mission bar using a single hand 8 weight fly rod.  George Foshee with a 18 pound steelie from the drift below Blue Creek and Mission Bar Dated 10/17/11  Nice steelie caught using a egg sucking leech. Dated 10/14/11  Ray Johnson with a nice Cowlitz River summer steelie Dated 10/14/11  Alright George!!!!!!! You broke the drought with a nice 9 pound summer caught using a egg sucking leech tied at Black Heron Fly Fishing.  George Foshee with a nice steelie at the bottom of the run at Blue Creek. Dated 10/14/11 Dated 9/30/11   Gary Bevers with his first Blue Creek Steelie. Dated 9/30/11  Gary fighting his 1 st steelie at Blue Creek. Dated 9/30/11  Ray Johnson with another summer run. Dated 9/29/11  Dated 8/24/11 Chrome bright steelie from Cowlitz river. Dated 9/23/11 Fishing has been very good at Blue Creek Trout hatchery for steelies and the sea run cutthroat.  Frank Fortino with his 1st steel on his Echo spey rod caught at Blue Creek Trout Hatchery this morning. Dated 9/23/11  Dated 9/22/11  Dated 9/22/11  Blue Creek boat launch at dawn. Dated 9/22/11  Ray Johnson with a nice 13 pound summer run from Blue Creek. Dated 9/20/11  Ray Johnson with his second fly rod steelie. Dated 9/20/11  Chrome summer run steelie caught by George Foshee. Dated 8/29/11  Ray Johnson with a summer steelie. Dated 8/29/11 Brad Reid with another chromer. Dated 9/28/11  George Foshee with a summer run steelie. Dated 8/27/11  Brad Reid with first steelie from the Cowlitz river with his new G :oomis NRX spey rod. Congratualtions Brad. Dated 9/19/11 Dated 8/16/11  Jimmy Laing with a summer steelie from the Blue Creek area using a switch rod. Dated 8/16/11  A nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river using a marabou Tube Fly. Dated 8/8/11  George Foshee with another steelie using a marabou tube fly from Black Heron Fly Fishing. Dated 8/8/11  Another nice chromer from the Cowlitz River. Caught using a Marabou Tube fly from Black Heron Fly Fishing. Dated 8/8/11  Bill Barker with a very nice summer from the Cowlitz River using his spey rod. Dated 8/11/11  Ray Johnson with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river using his 5 weight spey rod and a marabou tube fly. Dated 8/16/11 Dated 8/4/11  Pete Bratt with his first steelhead 14 pounds on a spey rod. Congratulations Pete!!!!!! Dated 8/4/11  Ray Johnson with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river. Dated 8/4/11  Ray Johnson fighting a nice summer steelie on the Cowlitz Dated 8/4/11 Dated 7/30/11  Dated 7/27/11 John Kendall with a summer steelie on the Cowlitz River. Fishing green butt skunk and 10 foot sinking tip on a 6 weight Echo Switch rod.  Dated 7/26/11 George Foshee with another fish at Blue CReek.  Dated 7/26/11 Another Blue Creek steelie comes to the bank using a Custom Black and Purple Tube Fly from Black Heron Fly Fishing. The Cowlitz river is doing well for steelhead from the mouth all the way to salmon hatchery. The water has fallen to around 5000 cfs and seems to have stabilized. Many fly anglers are experienceing success using pontton boats or drift boats in areas where the jet sleds are not in. Some cutthroat are present in the lower reaches of the river and are being taken mostly on nymphs along seams and back eddies. Blue Creek Boat Launch area has recently been very good for fly angling early in the mornings above and below the launch.  Dated 7/21/11 George Foshee getting ready for the cast at Blue Creek.  Dated 7/21/11 Ray Johnson with his first of the morning on a Custom Orange and Black Tube fly from Black Heron Fly Fishing.  Dated 7/21/11 Ray with one of the 3 fish hooked this morning.  Dated 7/21/11 A pair of chrome summers caught by Ray Johnson.  Dated 7/21/11 Bright summer steelie caught by George foshee using a tube fly from Black Heron Fly Fishing.  Dated 7/21/11 Caught and released by George Foshee. Dated 6/29/11 The Cowlitz is seeing steelhead move into the lower river from Blue Creek on down. The current river level is high but fishable at 8500 cfs. Pick your spots wisely as the fish are spreadout and fickle at times.  Nick Koontz with a nice summer steelie about 15 pounds. Dated 6/27/11  Nick with a nice cast for summer steelies. 6/27/11 Dated 5/28/11 The Cowlitz has seen a reduction in flow from 9900 cfs to approximately 6900 which is very fishable. Plan on a large crowd if vivisting there for Memorial Day weekend. Good patterns would include the Moal Leeches, String Things, Marabou Tube Flies, Egg Sucking Leeches, and a variety of other flies. The water is still cool and best fished with a sinking tip fly Line. Dated 5/22/11 The Cowlitz has been high for the last few months and is forcasted to remain high due to run off from snow melt. Current level is 9900 cfs with normal level being 6000. There are fish being take on the river during some of the lower water times but fishing has been hard for fly anglers. Dated 12/17/10 The water on the cowlitz is forecasted to drop into good shape by Monday below 10,000 CFS at Blue Creek. Keep checking the river levels using out river level area on the home page for Black Heron Fly Fishing. Coho and Winter Steelies have been taken at the Blue Creek and Barrier Dams recently.  A beautiful winter coho caught by Ray Johnson using a Marabou Tube Fly and Loomis Spey Rod from Black Heron Fly Fishing. 15ft Sinking tip fly line with a Skagit head helped produce these results. Caught and Released on 12/17/10. Dated 12/13/10 The river is high but in good shape above the mouth of the Toutle River. Coho are being caught at the salmon hatchery and winter steelies being caught at the Blue Creek Trout hatchery Current level below Mayfield is 11400 cfs Dated 12/1/10 The Cowlitz River is doing well for winter steelies as seen in the pictures below. Good patterns to consider would be the MOAL fly, Marabou Tube flies in Purple, Black, Pink and Orange, Egg Sucking Leech, Polar Shrimp, Intruders, Pick Yer Pockets, Bunny Leeches, Steves String Leech and others. The water level is at 8000 cfs and expected to rise tomrrow slightly. The less rain we get the better for the fly rodders at this point. Fish are defintely present but harder to fly fish at 10,000cfs. Here are some nice pictures to contemplate.  George Foshee with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz River. 12/1/10  Ray Johnson with a big winter steelie. Dated 12/1/10 Dated 10/24/10 The fly fishing on the Cowlitz has been good for summer steelies with an occasional winter thrown in to spice the bag up at Blue Creek and below. The water level is now at 6600 cfs which has some volume to it for this time of year. Normal flows are at 3600 cfs. Cutthroat are congregating in the Blue Creek area and can be hard to catch with the higher flows and colder temps. Silver salmon and chinook are both present at this time. Here are a few picture from the last few days.  Kevin Workman making the long spey cast on the Cowltz River with a sinking tip.  Leonard Workman with a nice Searun Cutthroat from the Cowlitz River on a very cold day of fishing. Dated 10/24/10  Kevin Workman hanging a nice steelie with his spey rod on the Cowlitz river. Dated 10/24/10  Ray Johnson with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz River. Dated 10/7/10  Jeff Evans with a nice sea run Dated 10/15/10  Jeff Evans with another nice cutthroat from the Cowlitz River. Dated 10/15/10  A nice cutthroat caught by Jeff Evans while with Black Heron Guide Service on the Cowlitz River. Dated 10/15/10  Senior Pastor Mike Wilde from the Laurelwood Baptist Church catching a few cuthroat on the Cowlitz river . Way to go Mike!!!! Dated 10/15/10  Mike Wilde with
another nice cutthroat from the Cowlitz river.Dated 10/15/10
 Another nice summer run from the Cowltz River using a spey rod. Caught by George Foshee. Dated 10/7/10  Dick with a nice summer run from the Blue Creek boat launch area using his single hand fly rod. Dated 10/10/10  Darrel Osborne with a nice cutthroat. Caught and released. 10/7/10 Dated 10/6/10 The Coho are in good numbers from Longview to the I5 bridge and will be available for anglers for quite afew weeks if the weather maintains itself. Steelies are present throughout the river and can be had on a variety of flies. Good patterns to try would include the BH Stones, Green Butt Skunks, Glo Bugs, Steelhead Mojo, Muddler Minnows, BH Buggers, BH Caddis Pupa, BH Lifters and MOAL Leeches. Black Heron Guide Service is currently booking fly fishing trips on the Cowlitz River for sea run cutthroat and steelhead.  Sean with a nice coho about 13 pounds. Caught and released below the Longview twin bridges. Dated 10/5/10  Jeff Traver from Stone Fly Guide Service with a nice sea run cutthroat from the Cowlitz River. Dated 10/5/10 Dated 10/2/10 The steelies, coho, cutthroat and chinook are still present in good numbers and available for fly rodders. The areas at Mission Bar and Blue Creek can be very good depending on pressure from other anglers. There has been light to moderate fishing pressure in this area in recent weeks.  Nice Coho 22 pounds. from the Lower Cowlitz river caught using a spey rod and sinking tip fly line.  George Foshee with another nice steelie from the Cowlitz River. Dated 9/30/10  Bill Barker from Morton Washington with a nice steelie from the Cowlitz river. Caught using his spey rod on 9/30/10. Dated 9/20/10 The Cowlitz was alive with cutthroat and steelies on Monday the 20th. Here are sme pictures for the die hard cutthroat and steelhead anglers in the area. Most fly anglers at the Blue Creek area did very well for Steelhead and cutthroat trout using small Brown Stone flies and Liebs bugs in size 8.  A nice cutthroat caught by Jolene Walsh on the Cowlitz. Dated 9/20/10  Another nice Cutthroat caught by Frank Walsh. Dated 9/20/10  20 inch steelie caught and released by Frank Walsh on the Cowlitz River while fishing with Black Heron Guide Service using a 5 weight Sage fly rod.  Nice 19 inch 3 pound Cutthroat caught on 9/20/10 by Jolene Walsh from the Blue Creek area by Frank Walsh.  Jolene Walsh with a nice Cowlitz River Cuttroat. Dated 9/20/10  A nice cuttbow caught by Frank Walsh on the Cowlitz River 9/20/10 Dated 9/18 The Cowlitz is still producing nice steelhead for the fly angler with very little crowding on the Cowlitz.  John Kendall from Black Heron Guide Service with a nice 10 pound steelhead caught using a spey rod and sinking tip system with a Lady Caroline fly. Dated 9/18/10 Dated 9/17/10 The Cowlitz river has a good number of medium sized cutthroat trout(11-15") and quite afew steelhead lying between Barrier Dam and Mission Bar. Pefect for the 3 or4 weight dry fly rod.  John Yasanovich with a healthy 16 inch Cutthroat from the Cowlitz River.   Ray Johnson with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river. The Cuthroat are quite aggresive and the action is fast on dry flies. The best flies being used on the cuthroat are the Yellow Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Carey Special and BH Caddis Pupa. Steelhead are prevalent in many of the runs and can be enticed using Lady Carolines, BH Buggers, Tube Flies , Green Butt Skunks and a variety of other flies. Sinking tips in type 3 to 6 are recommended using spey rods or single hand with short 4 foot leaders. The recent rains have also introduced a number of new fish into the lower river. The best part of the season has just begun and and should do nothing but get better from here on for steelhead and cutthroat. Dated 9/16/10  Alex Docker with a nice Cowlitz Cuttroat.  Alex fighting with a large cuttroat.  15 inch cutt caught by Alex Docker on 9/16/10  Alex with another nice Cowlitz River Cutt caught 9/16/10 Dated 9/10/10 The Cowlitz river is still kicking out good numbers of Steelhead for the fly anglers. Plan on this season being veru good for steelhead and silver salmon. Cutthroat are beginning to show in larger numbers this year due to cooler temperatures and higher water flows in the Cowlitz. Good patterns for cutthroat are the green butt skunk, wooly buggers, BH caddis pupa, and other streamers.  Jon Bates with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz River. Dated 9/10/10  Dated 9/10/10  Another nice steelie from the Cowlitz river. Dated 9/10/10 Dated 9/5/10  Jim Mann making the long cast for a steelie on the Cowlitz. Dated 9/5/10  Jim Mann with a nice fish on the Cowlitz river. Dated 9/5/10  Jim Mann with a nice 15 inch Cutthroat from the Cowlitz river. Dated 9/5/10 The steelhead are being taken in good numbers on The Cowlitz river using fly rods swinging flies and nymph fishing. The Searun Cutthroat Trout have also begun their migration up stream in good numbers. You will have to work alittle to get a nice limit but there are quite a few nice fish in river at this time. The next few rains will drastically improve the situation.  Three steelies and two cutts from the Middle Cowlitz river. Dated 9/5/10 Dated 8/31/10 The Blue Creek has had no anglers except for three and all were able to score steelhead this morning. I guess this was a "You should have been there" type scenario. All anglers were using spey rods and sinking tip fly lines. Flies used were BH Black Buggers, Muddler minnows and Small Marabou Tube Flies. Day light to 10:00am. Dated 8/30/10 George Foshee with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz River eeeearly in the morning. Dated 8/30/10 Fly Fishing the Cowlitz river should be very good as anglers are reporting catching more and more steelies along with a few cutthroat trout. The majority of fish beinf caught are from Blue Creek and below to Castle Rock. The best time to fish this river is early in the mornings and later in the day. Good patterns to use include the MOAL leech, Green Butt Skunk, BH Wooly Bugger, Lady Carolines, Muddler Minnows and October Caddis Pupa. Again as mentioned in earlier writing the Cowlitz has lots of private land and is best navigated by a pontoon boat or drift boat. Dated 8/16/10  Celna Briones Kendall with a nice cutthroat from the Cowlitz river. Caught and released. Dated 8/15/10 Dated 8/14/10 The Cowlitz River Spey Clave had about the same number of people show up as last year. The program was great with Mike Kinney, Bruce Berry, Ron Lauzon and Jack Cook doing some incredible casting and instruction for the people attending. The food this year was extra special as we had 7 inch high half pound burgers or extra large polish dogs, chips and a drink for $4- $6 provided by the Filipino American Association. One of the best out door BQs I have seen in many a year. There was something for everyone this year at the clave and a big thanks to everyone contributinig their time and energy to this function. We could not put this function on without the help of the volunteers who manned the parking area and banks helping with this event. A big thanks to the Rainland Fly Casters along with the Washington Federation of Fly Fishers for their time and effort in providing tying opportunities for the kids and adults. A special thanks to Mr Gary Bevers who was a star with the Atlantic Salmon flies at the event. Here are a few pictures to remember the event:  Ron Lauzon with his presentation of Skagit/Scandi and Greaseline.  Dave Johnson, President of the Rainland Fly Casters tying his Bunny Muddler.  Dave Johnsons Bunny Muddler.  The lower clave section.  Andrew and Vern Jeremica from the Fed. of Fly Fishers tying a steelhead fly.  Andrew with his first steelhead fly after some instruction from Vern Jeremica of Fed of Fly Fishers. Nice tye Andrew.  Jack Cook providing some instruction on tying spey flies.  Left to Right Commercial fly tyer Chuck Scott, Professional Guide Jeff Traver, and Mike Blake conferring on the bank about fly lines and Rods.  Just getting set for the days activities.  Dan Marshall from Echo fly Rods and Air Flo Fly Lines getting ready for the day.  Mr Mike Kinney doing his awesome presentation using TFO spey rods.  Jack Cook performing a scandinavian style cast for the crowd.   Left to Right Mr Ben, River the Dog and Bruce Berry from Beulah Fly Rods getting ready for the day at the Cowlitz River Spey Clave.  The cooks left to right Christine, Elma and Celna. Thank you ladies you are stars.  A custom fly by Gary Bevers during the spey clave. Dated 8/14/10  Gary Bevers doing soom magic with flies.  Flies by Gary Bevers during the Spey Clave.  Commercial fly tyer Chuck Scott. Dated 8/2/10  George Foshee scores another on the Cowlitz River this morning. Dated 8/2/10 The Cowlitz river is heating up for summer steelhead on the fly. Good techniques for the Cowlitz are to swing flies using long leaders or sinking leaders in the 10-15 foot length. A good pattern to start with would be the Black and Purple Summer MOAL leech, Freight Trains, Green Butt Skunks, Lady Carolines, BH Bunny Leeches, BH Stone Fly Nymphs and Glo Bugs or Lifter patterns.  Mark with a very nice summer run steelie caught in the Cowlitz River. Dated 8/1/10 Dated 7/30/10  Jeff Traver from Stone Fly Guide Service with a nice summer steelie from the lower Cowlitz River. The fly fishing on the lower and middle sections of the Cowlitz has been good using longer leaders lighter tippets and smaller flies. Dated 7/30/10 Cowlitz River Spey Clave August 7th, 2010 Sponsored by Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, WA 98632 Please call us for details or visit our home page for more details. This is a free event dedicated to the sport of spey and fly fishing for the beginner through expert. Please checkout the event schedule as it begins to appear over the next week or so. This years event will have 6-7 major 1 hour fly casting demos with many more fly tying presentions. There will be a one hour lunch break which will allow the attendees, presentors and manufactuers to grab a burger, hot dog from the barbeque and drink of their choosing for a small charge. Dated 7/26/10 The Cowlitz River is doing well for summer steelies using flies. Some of the more popular patterns are the Green Butt Skunk, Moal Leeches, Freight Trains, Muddler Minnows, BH Bunny Leeches in a variety of colors, BH Stone Fly Nymphs, Polar Shrimps, BH Wooly Buggers, Steelhead Mojos, Berrys Dirty Bunnys and Marabou Tube Flies tyed in a variety of colors. Many of the fly anglers are reporting success using intermediate sinking leaders or full sinking fly lines. Remember to keep your tippets light and long this time of year as the fish are spooky. Best success has been fishing the less travelled waters by the sleds which are common at Blue Creek Boat launch. Thus use of a pontoon boat or drift boat is recommended in this area to increase your chances. The sleds typically fish only the bigger deeper runs and leave many areas untouched with fish in them. Single and double handed rods are equally effective this time of year if you cover the water. The single handed fly anglers are quite commonly using either full sinking intermediate WF6I or a WF6F line with a sinking leader. The spey rodders are commonly using long 15-17 foot tapered leaders or a 15 foot intermediate sinking leader with 7 to 9 pound tippet due to the lower water levels at 3500 cfs. Flourocarbon leaders and tippet are a good suggestion due to water clarity. Be creative in selecting your water the return will be great if patient. Spey Casting classes are offered at Black Heron Fly Fishing, which is located at Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, Washington 98632 360-575-3970 office johnkendall_56@msn.com email Pontoon boats by Water Skeeter and Bucks Bags are carried by Black Heron Fly Fishing. Give us a call and checkout our prices. Full guideed services are provided for fly fishing the Cowlitz river through our prostaff. Please see our home page on the guide services available at www.blackheronflyfishing.com Dated 7/12/10 The Cowlitz River is doing well for summer steelies during mornings and evenings. Break out the dry fly lines boys because the fish are active and taking afew dries . Many of the anglers are still using sinking leaders and sinking tips during the middle of the day. Expect afew jet sleds above and below Blue Creek boat ramp. If you pick your water well there should be no problem. Go slow and fish all the water to increase you chances.  Roger Simpson with a chrome 13 pound summer run from the lower Cowlitz River. Caught using a size 6 BH Black Bugger and sinking leader on a Sage XI2 6 weight. Dated 7/12/10 Dated 7/10/10 Mike Black with a couple more chromers from the lower Cowlitz River.  Dated 7/1010 Cowlitz River Spey Clave August 7th, 2010 Sponsored by Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, WA 98632 Please call us for details or visit our home page for more details. This is a free event dedicated to the sport of spey and fly fishing for the beginner through expert. Please checkout the event schedule as it begins to appear over the next week or so. This years event will have 6-7 major 1 hour fly casting demos with many more fly tying presentions. There will be a one hour lunch break which will allow the attendees, presentors and manufactuers to grab a burger, hot dog from the barbeque and drink of their choosing for a small charge. Dated 6/30/10 The Cowlitz river has seen afew steelhead being caught on the fly rods at Blue Creek Boat launch by with water levels at 8000 cfs the going is still hard. Water levels have been changing for the better the last day or two with the last reading at 7800. The best method for fishing the Cowlitz is to use a drift boat or pontoon boat for transportation and fish from the bank while fly fishing. Sinking leaders and tips are still the best lines with medium sized string leeches or small intruder patterns. All standard summer run patterns and BH stone fly patterns work great. Here is a nice trout from the Cowlitz river basin caught and released on 6/29/10 by Andy Lemmons 
Dated 6/4/10 The Cowlitz river has fallen into a reasonable level to fish at 7100 cfs and should have summer steelies present from the Barrier Dam to the mouth of river. The weeks worth of 10-12,000 cfs water levels should have driven many steelies right up stream. Plan on usng larger patterns as long as the level remains above 6000 cfs Dated 5/18/10 The Cowlitz river is runnning at 3500 cfs and has summer run steelies entering the salmon hatchery. The best area for steelhead fishing is in the lower river. The best area for salmon are above Blue Creek boat launch. Fly anglers below Blue Creek are reporting good catches of summers with the number of fish increasing daily. Spey Casting classes are offered at Black Heron Fly Fishing, which is located at Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, Washington 98632 360-575-3970 office johnkendall_56@msn.com email Pontoon boats by Water Skeeter and Bucks Bags are carried by Black Heron Fly Fishing. Give us a call and checkout our prices. Dated 5/9/10 The Cowlitz river has summer run and winter run steelhead present. The winter run is quickly coming to an end and the summers are taking their place. The upper river is holding the most promise with spring chinook present. The area from Blue creek down stream to Castle Rock should be considered using a drift boat if trying to fly fish. Many new fish (Steelhead) have entered the river and should continue through the summer and fall season. Expect good fish if your diligent. River levels are low. Please consult river levels on our home page at www.blackheronflyfishing.com Spey Casting classes are offered at Black Heron Fly Fishing, which is located at Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, Washington 98632 360-575-3970 office johnkendall_56@msn.com email Pontoon boats by Water Skeeter and Bucks Bags are carried by Black Heron Fly Fishing. Give us a call and checkout our prices. Dated 4/26/10 The Cowlitz river has been doing extremely well for fly rod steelhead in the last few weeks due to lower water levels. Floating fly lines and slow sinking tip fly lines and leaders are the norm now with the lower water levels. Spring chinook are present but difficult on a fly rod. As always on the Cowlitz around Blue Creek be ready for some combat fishing. If anglers are willing to travel down stream and stay away from the crowds there are plenty of holes without people in them. The best methods of travel on the Cowlitz are the Drift Boat and Pontoon Boat. The river is currently at 3500 cfs and weather conditions are excellent today. The forecast is for very good conditions over the next few days. Please checkout our weather site link on the home page. Spey Casting classes are offered at Black Heron Fly Fishing, which is located at Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, Washington 98632 360-575-3970 office johnkendall_56@msn.com email Pontoon boats by Water Skeeter and Bucks Bags are carried by Black Heron Fly Fishing. Give us a call and checkout our prices. Dated 4/13/10 The Cowlitz river is still producing good numbers of winter steelies for the fly rodders from the salmon hatchery down stream to the mouth of the Toutle river. There are more and more spring salmon showing in the river with afew being caught by the Jet Sleds. The lower river has been murky lately but should clear as good weather approaches and holds over the area. The fly rodders having the most success have been the ones willing to take a drift trip and work the banks for the undisturbed fish. Typical set ups are spey rods with a sinknig tip fly line and short 4 foot leader of 8-10 pound. Current river levels are 4300 cfs with good clear waters in the upper river below Mayfield dam which provides a wonderful tail water fishery for winter and summer run steelies. The forcast is for improving weather over the weekend with temps in the high 60s to low 80s and few clouds. Get out while you can!!!!!! Spey Casting classes are offered at Black Heron Fly Fishing, which is located at Black Heron Fly Fishing 1060 14th Ave Longview, Washington 98632 360-575-3970 office johnkendall_56@msn.com email Pontoon boats by Water Skeeter and Bucks Bags are carried by Black Heron Fly Fishing. Give us a call and checkout our prices. Dated 4/7/10  James Cosmo Spey fishing on the Cowlitz River. Dated 4/4/10  Bill Barker with a nice Cowlitz river Fly caught Steelie. Dated 4/2/10  Ray Johnson with another chrome winter steelie from the Cowlitz river Dated 4/2/10 The Cowlitz River has been producing good numbers of winter steelies for the fly rodders willing to take a drift trip below Blue Creek proper. Good patterns to consider when fishing here are the MOAL Leeches, String leeches, Green Butt Skunks, Purple Perils, Freight Trains, BH Stone Fly Nymphs, BH Lifters, River Rat Squids, Lady Carolines and a host of BH Tube Flies. The Jet boaters are out in number due to the Columbia river beng muddy in color. Plan on having company in the mornings but with fewer boaters in the evenings if fly fishing after 2-3:00pm. The water has been low for this time of year and has consolidated the fish into holding area along the banks, in slots and other obstructions. Plan on fishing these area . There are many new area which have been created by the flows during December and January be looking for these spots. Fishing has been good on the Cowlitz. Dated 3/20/09 The Cowlitz has been blessed with some spectacular weather and very low river levels at the 5050 cfs mark making fly fishing for winter steelies very good between the Salmon hatchery and the I5 bridge. The best areas are still below Blue Creek proper and Mission Bar take out about 6 miles below. The currnet weather forcast is for good to excellent weather for winter steelhead fly fishing through the rest of the month. There are expected periods where we may experience showers but for the majority of time expect good river levels and good weather. Many anglers are using Small Intruders, BH Marabou String Leeches, Hoh Bo Spey Flies, BH Buggers, Egg Sucking Leeches, Green Butt Skunks, Dean River Tigers(Tube Style), Spade Flies and MOAL Leeches in a variety of colors such as black, black and purple, black and orange, black and pink, black and red. There have been two dry fly steelies taken on the lower Cowlitz river due to the warm weather in the last few days. We still recommend the use of a sinking tip fly line if you want to be successful in most cases. Remember to stay as far as possible from other anglers when fishing to allow the fish to rest and take up a lye. Also fish holding structure for these fish against and behind rocks, in riffle water and along seams in the river. A spey rod will allow you to fish the Cowlitz river more efficiently using longer leaders heavier sinking tips and better presentations due to the length of the rod. Dated 3/9/10 Salmon/SteelheadCowlitz River - Steelhead and some spring chinook are being caught throughout the lower river. Flows below Mayfield Dam are 4,560 cfs which is lower than the 5,480 cfs long-term mean for this date.Lewis River - Effort remains generally light. Some spring chinook are being caught. Flows below Merwin Dam were 8,080 cfs which is higher than the 5,100 cfs long-term mean for this date.Wind and Klickitat rivers and Drano Lake - Little to no effort. No catch reported. On the Klickitat, flows at Pitt are 2,150 cfs which is nearly identical to the long-term mean for this date.Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - During the first four days of April we sampled 2,242 boat anglers (922 boats) with 308 adult chinook and 1 steelhead. In addition, we sampled 436 bank anglers with 60 adult chinook and 1 steelhead. 96% of the chinook were caught from Section 4 (Warrior Rock) upstream. Overall, 86% of the adult Chinook caught were kept. Of the 300 adult chinook sampled, 93% were upriver stock based on Visual Stock Identification (VSI).The I-5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam area is now closed to fishing for salmon, steelhead, and shad. Buoy 10 to the I-5 Bridge is scheduled to be open for hatchery spring chinook, hatchery steelhead, and shad 7 days/week through April 18. The Dalles Pool - The first spring chinook of the season were sampled there last week. Scheduled to be open 7 days/week through May. Daily limit 2 hatchery adult chinook, hatchery steelhead, or one of each.It
is anticipated that the spring spill program will begin at all lower
Snake River dams at 0001 hours on April 3rd,
2010 (see Fish
Passage Center
|
|
|
2008
Forecast |
2008
Actual |
2009 Forecast |
Comments |
Cowlitz |
5,200 |
2,700 |
4,100 |
About
2/3rd of recent 10-year average |
|
Kalama |
3,700 |
1,600 |
900 |
Lowest
return since 1998 |
|
Lewis |
3,500 |
2,400 |
2,200 |
Similar
to 2008 and about half of the recent 10-year average |
|
Total |
12,400 |
6,700 |
7,200 |
About
half of the 10-year average |
DATED 12/12/08
Chrome 7 pound winter run steelie from the Cowlitz river caught on a Black Marabou String Leech.
The Cowlitz is running at 5400 cfs and is in perfect condition for fly fishing according to reports from fly anglers fishing the river.
Cold weather is expected this weekend with lows approaching 9 degrees above zero and many anglers may avoid the weather for theTV and sofa. This may be a good time to try your luck at winter steelhead fly fishing the Cowlitz. There is also the possibilty of some snow in the forecast.
DATED 12/8/08
The Cowlitz has seen a large drop in river level to 5400 cfs and should be producing lots of fish at this time.
There is a storm approaching with rain in the report. Plan on fishng this stream as quickly as possible as there are fish being reportly caught at this time.
The clarity of the water on the Cowlitz has been fair but not great. Visibility on last report was about 2 feet maybe 3 feet. with a murky tinge but not dirt.
The steelies are more than eager to take flies but your presentation must be slow and deep.
12/5/08
A another nice summer steelie from the Cowltz River during the murky water.
As seen in the picture the water here is defintely murky but fishable with a fly rod.
Visibilty is about 2 feet according to the guys fishing this water. As we noted the last couple of days we have been using the glow in the dark flies and producing some strikes and fish on during our trips.
12/5/08
George Foshee with another nice winter steelie from the Cowlitz river.
DATED 12/5/08
DATED 12/3/08
The water on the Cowlitz has been a little murky lately and is running about 6700 cfs but there are fish present. There were 3 steelhead hooked using glo in the dark flies last Sunday and 2 on Monday by clients below Blue Creek proper. All fish were hooked close to the bank and on the swing in the murky water using sinking tip fly lines. All anglers said the same thing "keep moving through the water" you will find a willling fish.
When Mayfield Dam clears up the fishing will defintely improve. Until then anglers will have to adapt and improvise to the situation.
DATED 11/25/08
The Cowlitz River has been doing well for Winter Steelies and should really being to turn on this week and next. The lower river has seen numerous fish being caught by both fly rodders and bait guy in the last few weeks. The area below the Toutle has been the best recently. The fly rodders have done well with several reports of fish in the mid teens.
The river has fallen into shape at 6700 cfs and should congregate the fish in the runs.
Steve Cushing from the Clark Skamania Fly Fishers caught this 14 pound
steelie on the Cowlitz River using a 5 weight bamboo fly rod.
11/20/08
The Cowlitz has winter steelies present from the mouth up stream to the salmon hatchery. There have been several reports from the lower river of 15- 16 pound fly rod winters being caught using lead eyed bunny leeches on spey rods. The majority of fly fishing has occured from the Blue Creek hatchery down to I5 .
A few anglers have reported catching summer steelhead and cuttroat trout above and below the Blue Creek boat launch. No pictures so far this week.
The water level at Mayfield Dam is 8400 cfs. The water should rise only slightly over the next few days and then recede to normal levels.
Black Heron Fly Fishing is a supplier of quality pontoon boats from Bucks Bags and Water Skeeter. Please give us a call for further details at:
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
11/11/08
The Cowlitz River has fallen to acceptable levels since last Thursday night with water raging at 15,000cfs. The water level has currently leveled off at 8000cfs and can now be fished with a moderate degree of safety. Even more fish will be present than before due to the higher than normal flows from the last rains.
The Cowlitz River continues to be hot for Sea Run Cutthroat trout and Steelies with even a few fish being hooked and landed by the fly anglers at Blue Creek during the higher than normal water that took place during the week. Most of these anglers were using spey rods and heavy sinking tip fly lines.
The winter steelies should start to become more common in the next few days with water levels still runnning higher than normal but far more fishable than before.
Some common patterns for the winter steelies would be Hoh Bo flies, Pick Your Pocket, Intruders, Steves String Leeches, Marabou String Leeches and other larger flies for the higher water levels. Other possibilities might include Green Lanterns, Lady Caroline, Pink Panthers, River Rat Squid, Muddlers, Polar Shrimp and Green Butt Skunks.
Some currnet pictures from the Cowlitz river.
Photo courtesy of Mike Elo of some Cowlitz River Coho Jacks caught using a fly rod below the Barrier Dam. 11/15/08
Mature sea run cutthroat trout from the Cowlitz river. Photo courtesy of Mike Elo.
11/15/08
DATED 11/12/08
Chrome summer run steelie from the Cowlitz River.
The Cowlitz is raging and we will have to see what happens. River flow at Mayfield dam is 14,000 cfs at 6:00pm
Dated 11/12/08
DATED 11/11/08
Bob Brown with his first big day fly fishing on the Cowlitz River catching a steelie and 3-4 searun cutthroat trout. Bob learned to Fly cast through our program here at Black Heron Fly Fishing during late August and has made steady catches since learning. Congratulations Bob!!!!
Landon Connorton with a nice summer steelie caught on the Cowlitz river on 11/10/08
using a Black BH Wooly Bugger and a Sage VT II 14 ft 8 weight spey rod.
Anglers from the trout hatchery downstream are catching some coho and sea-run cutthroats. Most of the sea-runs are being caught at the trout hatchery. Some winter run steelhead into the teens (pounds) are also being caught.
Through November 5, a total of 16 hatchery winter run steelhead had returned to the salmon hatchery. In addition, over 47,000 hatchery adult coho had arrived making this year's return, though not complete, already in the top ten of all-time for that facility. The record return is 75,574 fish in 2002.
In addition, nearly 10,300 hatchery coho jacks had been counted at the salmon hatchery through November 5. Already, this year's jack return is the 2nd highest since 1990. Also, 4,721 hatchery sea-run cutthroats have returned to the trout and salmon hatcheries. However, it will take a lot more fish to beat the record of 22,394 that returned in 2002.
11/06/08
George Foshee with another nice steelie from the Cowlitz river from this morning.
Using a Bead Head Purple Bugger size 4.
11/06/08
Ray Johnson with a nice summer run steelie from the Blue Creek drift this morning.
Using a Lady Caroline size 5 with a sinking tip fly line.
11/06/08
There have been over 41,000 adult coho enter the Cowlitz Salmon hatchery so far this year along with 2,000 cutthroat according to WDFW. The cutthroat fishing in the Cowlitz river has been extrodinary this year with many anglers catching 30 fish a day. There are far more cutthroat in the river than 2000 in the hatchery plan on making a trip there to partake of the extrodinary fishery this year. The fly of the season has been the October Caddis Pupa so far.
The steelie fishing has defintely been good this year with many more fish in the river due to the water levels. Many new fish seem to be entering the river due to the higher than normal water levels at 5800 cfs . Plan on using sinking tip fly lines and sinking leaders to get infront of the fish.
Plan on taking a rain coat with you this is true fall weather fishing at its best with small squalls and wind providing for a uncomfortable situation if your not prepared. The forcast is for rain and wind.
Remember to keep moving through the water and hunting your fish. (2 Casts and 1 step down stream) . Fish a fly you personally have confidence in and fish it completely through a run or riffle. When you have finished fishing the run go back to the top of the run and pickout a new fly in a diffrent size shape and color and fish through the run one more time.
Example Fish a Freight Train size 2 first time through the run then fish a BH Stone Fly Nymph size 6 the second time through.
Pontoon boats and drift boats will greatly increase your ability to access waters on the Cowlitz river. There is no substitute for accessability to prime waters.
If you only fish one or two holes in a river then you have not covered the water .
Black Heron Fly Fishing is a suppplier of Bucks Bags and Water Skeeter Pontoon Boats.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
Ray Johnson with another 10 pound nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river using a Loomis Dredger with Skagit head and T8 sinking tip.
11/03/08
8 pound summer steelie from the Cowlitz River caught by George Foshee using a 56 weight Temple Fork Spey Rod with a Rio Skagit head and T8 sinking tip.
11/03/08
David with a very nice set of searun cutts 14 -17" from the Cowlitz river.
11/03/08
The fishing on the Cowlitz continues to be very good for steelies silvers and cutthroat trout. Many anglers have picked up their spey rods now since we have began to get some wetter than average weather. 15 foot sinking tip fly lines with shooting heads are the norm for many of these anglers getting the steelhead and salmon. Black Heron Fly Fishing now carries the new RIO PRODUCTS T17 sinking line which will soon be a big hit with the winter steelheaders sinking at 10 inches per second. This item comes in a variety of formats. Call us for details.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
10/30/08
Micheal Elo's first steelie on a fly rod. Beautiful 25 inch steelie from the Mission Bar area. The fishing continues to be very good on the Cowlitz with a larger than normal number of steelies, cutthroat and silvers this year. Many fish are being caught using the October Caddis Pupa tyed from Black Heron Fly Fishing.
10/30/08
10/29/08
Prime summer steelie from the Cowlitz river. Caught and released below Missiom Bar.
10/29/08
10/28/08
The fishing on the Cowlitz has reached a fever pitch this week with bank anglers reaching a total of 300 per day at the barrier dam according to the wdfw with a record or near record return for coho salmon..
Ray Johnson with a nice 10# summer steelie from the Cowlitz River.
Dated 10/28/08
10/27/08
A nice 14" Cutthroat from the Cowlitz River caught and released by
Kelsey Croft. 10/26/08
The fishing at the Barrier dam continues to be good for coho due the early migration of salmon to the upper areas on the river from higher water this season. Fishing pressure is heavy at this time.
Anyone using a drift boat or pontoon boat will greatly increase the number of fish caught just by gaining more access to the holding waters used by the fish. The waters below the Barrier Dam can be very good fly fishing when fished completely.
The water level has dropped to 5600 cfs the last few days which should greatly increase the number of fish available to the fly anglers. You may want to try your floating lines again but the sinking tip will most likely work better even at 5600 cfs.
The Blue Creek area also has salmon present but the numbers are considerably lower and fewer fish are being landed here. Most anglers here are fly fishing with spey rods or single handed fly rods. The morning bite seems to be the norm here with lower action in the evening due to the heavy pressure.
Kelsey Croft with another nice 15" sea run cutthroat from the Cowlitz river using a Elk Hair Caddis. Caught and Released 10/26/08.
10/22/08
Photo courtesy of Tom Jeanette of sea run cutthroat trout from the Cowlitz River on 10/22/08
James and Arnie Kim with their 1st Cowlitz river Cutthroat fly fishing on 10/22/08
James Kim with another nice sea run cutt from the Cowlitz river.10/20/08
John Kendall from Black Heron Fly Fishing presenting a dry to a rising cutthroat on the Cowlitz river. 10/22/08
DATED 10/21/08
. The steelhead and cutthroat fly fishing has been exceptional this year with many fish holding in the area from Blue Creek Fish hatchery to the Olequa area
The first 5-6 holes above Blue Creek have also held alot of trout and steelhead. Many of these steelhead are being taken while trout fishing using light gear in the 4x 6 pound test range. Tradition trout patterns such as the October Caddis Pupa, Reverse Spiders, Wooly Buggers, BH Stone Fly Nymphs and other nymph patterns have worked well for taking steelhead.
The B run Coho and winter steelies are beginning to show up in the lower river with reports from the Toutle and Olequa area taking precedents.
A stringer of Cowlitz river cutts caught by Mike Elo using caddis pupa patterns.
DATED 10/21/08
DATED 10/16/08
Ray Johnson with a nice 10 pound Summer Steelie from the Mission Bar area
using a Lady Caroline from Black Heron Fly Fishing. Dated 10/16/08
Summer Steelies from the Cowlitz River respecfully 5 and 8 pounds caught on Lady Carolines below Mission Bar. Two nice Cutts about 15-16 inches. Photo Courtesy George Foshee.
The Cowlitz is running high but there are alot of fish being caught by the fly anglers venturing out. The majority of fly anglers are using sinking tip fly lines or sinking leaders with a 3-4 foot leader attached. Most presentations involve a down and accross presentation and then a swing and hold of the fly before making the next cast. The fish are all close to the bank due to the high water.
DATED 10/16/08
DATED 10/10/08
The Cowlitz river is open for hatchery Chinook, Steelhead and Coho below Blue Creek. There is a closure between Blue Creek and Mill Creek for Chinook. Please consult regulations with hatchery Steelies and coho being open above Blue Creek.
The fishing has been excellent with anglers reporting excellent catches of Cutthroat trout, Steelhead and Coho salmon.
See the custom flies listed below for the patterns.
Robert Quoidbach with a chrome Chinook from the Cowlitz River. Caught using a articulated bunny leech in purple.
DATED 10/10/08
DATED 10/03/08
Marc Lesher with a chrome summer run from the Cowlitz river 10/03/08
Marc Lesher and Ray Johnson with a limit of cutthroat from the Cowlitz
10/02/08
DATED 9/29/08
Ray Johnson with yet another chromer from the Cowlitz river. Caught using a October Caddis Pupa on his 5 weight spey rod. The october caddis is featuered on this page just below. Please page down to find.
Dated 9/28/08
Kelsey Croft on her first day of fly fishing with her first Cutthroat Trout from the Cowlitz River. Way to go Kelsey!!!!!! There are many more trout in your future..
Dated 9/29/08
DATED 9/27/08
James Cosmo spey fishing the Cowlitz River.
The Fly Dejour!!!!!! Dated 9/27/08
This one does it all guys. Contact us for tying and fly fishing techniques for this fly.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
johnkendall_56@msn.com
The October Caddis Dry Fly
Dated 9/27/08
Contact us for tying and fly fishing techniques for this fly.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
johnkendall_56@msn.com
www.blackheronflyfishing.com
The October Caddis Pupa. This is one you will want for your fly box on
the Cowlitz this fall. Dated 9/27/08
Please call us for tying and fishing instruction on this fly.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970
johnkendall_56@msn.com
Jeff Traver from Stone Guide Service making a long spey cast on the Cowlitz
Dated 9/27/08
DATED 9/25/08
A chrome summer run from the Cowlitz River caught and released by Ray Johnson.
Dated 9/25/08
9/23/08
The Cowlitz has a good number of silvers, chinook and steelies present from the mouth to the salmon hatchery. Plan on fishing sinking tip fly lines with larger patterns in size 2-4 as the cowlitz is running very high for this time of year.
The cutthroat have been doing very well with most anglers catching these trout in short time. Most angler report seeing and catching 16-17 inch trout commonly.
Common wet patterns for these trout are the Prince Nymph, Soft Hackles, Caddis Pupa, Wooly Buggers along with small Green Butt Skunks and Purple Joes. Common dry flies used for these trout include the Elk Hair Caddis, Callibaetis Dunn, Blue Wing Olives, Adams and Stimulators.
The currnet river level is 5800 cfs as of 9/23/08 at 12:00 noon. The water level has been a major concern for many anglers but as we have said in the past. "If you wait you will not have the opportunity to catch any of these fish as they are in the river now!!!!"
Please checkout the river levels and weather reports found on our home page at www.blackheronflyfishing.com This site accesses radio telemetry data that is always updated by the USGS and The Weather Channel.
DATED 9/19/08
Steve Graysons 6 pound buck summer steelie from the Cowlitz River.
Caught on a Krytal Flash Freight Train. Dated 9/19/08
DATED 9/16/08
15 " cutthroat from the Cowlitz River from above the Blue Creek area.
DATED 9/16/08
Nice 16" Cutthroat from the Cowlitz River fishing above Blue Creek.
Dated 9/16/08
DATED 9/13/08
Beautiful 17 inch Sea Run Cutthroat from Cowlitz River. 9/13/08
Big sea Run Cutthroat 19 inches from Cowlitz River. Caught by Steve Grayson 9/13/08
Large Searun Cutthroat from Cowlitz River 9/13/08
Caught and released by Steve Grayson
DATED 9/10/08
Jeff Traver with a nice 14 pound summer steelie caught on Cowlitz River. The Freight Train is the magic fly for Mr Jeef this day.
Dated 9/10/08
DATED 9/10/08
Greg Stange with a nice pair of silver salmon from the Cowlitz River, respectfully 15 and 12 pounds caught on a single handle fly rod.
Dated 9/10/08
DATED 9/8/08
Cowlitz River from the Hwy. 4 Bridge at Kelso upstream to 400 feet below Mayfield Dam powerhouse and the North Fork Lewis River from the I-5 Bridge upstream to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam: Up to six hatchery steelhead may be retained until further notice. WDFW NOTICE/FISHING HOTLINE.
Dated 9/6/09
Greg Stange with two nice Cowlitz river Silvers. Caught using a spey rod and flash flies. Dated 9/6/08
DATED 9/2/08
BIG 18" CUTTHROAT FROM COWLITZ RIVER
DATED 9/2/08
DATED 8/31/08
John Kendall playing a chinook salmon from the Cowlitz river.8/31/08 C&R
John Kendall with a 6-7 pound chinook salmon from the Cowltiz River. C&R 8/31/08 Caught on a size 2 Black and Orange Comet with silver body.
DATED 8/26/08
Jeff Traver, owner, Stone Fly Guide service on his day off fishing
The Cowlitz river.
8/26/08
Jeff Traver with his summer steelie from the Cowlitz river 8/26/08.
DATED 8/25/08
George Foshee summer steelie 8/25/08 caught on the Cowlitz river.
Ray Johnson landing a 10 pound summer steelie from Cowlitz river.
8/25/08
Ray Johnson landing another summer steelie 8/25/08.
George foshee's 8 pound summer steelie caught and released. 8/25/08
Ray Johnson with another 10pound summer steelie 8/25/08.
George Foshee summer steelie C/R from the Cowlitz river 8/25/08.
George and Ray with there days catch from Cowlitz river. 8/25/08
Client Chris from Stone Fly Guide Service with a large sea run cutthroat. Caught and Released 8/25/08.
DATED 8/22/08
CAUGHT BY STEVE GRAYSON 8/22/08
Jeff Traver owner of Stone Fly Guide Service with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz river using a spey rod with floating fly line. 8/22/08
DATED 8/19/08
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River - Boat anglers around the trout hatchery averaged about ½ steelhead per rod. Some steelhead and sea run cutthroats are being caught in the lower river.
Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 333 summer-run steelhead, 25 spring chinook adults, two spring chinook jacks, 28 spring chinook mini-jacks, one fall chinook adult, three cutthroat trout and two chum salmon during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the week Tacoma Power employees released two spring chinook adults and one jack into Cispus River above the mouth of Yellowjacket Creek, eight spring chinook adults and one jack into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood, Washington. A total of 21 spring chinook mini-jacks were released into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park and one fall chinook adult was released into the Tilton River at Gus Backstrom Park in Morton. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees transported two cutthroat trout to the Tilton River during the week
ROGER SIMPSON WITH A NICE SEA RUN CUTTHROAT FROM COWLITZ 8/19/08
The anglers at Blue Creek boat launch and Mission Bar are seeing some steelhead fly rod fish being caught. The majority of anglers are using floating fly lines with long leaders . Our suggestion with 4900 cfs is to use a light sinking tip or snking leader to break the surface and present the fly lower in the water column.Check the river levels on www.blackheronflyfishing.com for electronic river levels and weather reports on their home page.
A recurrent theme that seemed to be happening this week was that the October Caddis dries and Nymphs were being fished and hooking steelhead. This is usually reserved for September but with the increased stream flows this week we may see some changes. The most popular flies being fished were the October Caddis Pupae on a long leader and floating fly line.
Some pictures from The Cowlitz River and Stone Fly Guide Service. The fishing has been very good the last few days and here are some pictures for comtemplation.
Stone Fly Guide Service Customer Mark with a nice summer steelie on the Cowlitz River using a spey rod. This one took a while to land. 7/31/08
Stone Fly Guide Service customer Mark with his summer steelie from the Cowlitz river. 7/31/08
The Cowlitz river is doing very well this week. The following picture was taken Sunday in the afternoon at Blue Creek boat launch. Angler John Kendall. Owner of Black Heron Fly Fishing with a spey rod steelhead
11 pounds.
Cowlitz River - Anglers continue to catch summer run steelhead around the trout hatchery.
DATED 7/28/08
Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 669 summer-run steelhead, 43 spring chinook adults, seven spring chinook jacks, 134 spring chinook mini-jacks during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. During the week Tacoma Power employees released ten spring chinook adults and seven jacks into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Site and 103 spring chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park. River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 3,050 cubic feet per second on Monday, July 28. Water visibility is 12 feet.
Effective August 1, only hatchery coho and hatchery chinook jacks may be retained on the Cowlitz from the mouth to Mayfield Dam and the Toutle (including mainstem, North Fork, and Green) rivers. The hatchery escapement goals for adult fall chinook may not be met on the Cowlitz and Toutle rivers this year. However, two year-old mass marked fall Chinook jacks will be returning in 2008.
Keep checking the live river levels using the USGS site listed on www.blackheronflyfishing.com. This site has live updates that are radio telemetry dispersed to the website. The weather channel is also updated electronically.
Again we need to emphasis that moving throught the water on the Cowlitz is the trick to success. The Cowlitz is a big river. If you have access to a drift boat or pontoon boat this will put you in front of fish immdiately. If you move through the water in a systematic manner you will catch fish.
The
best technque for fishing this area of course is a spey rod
with a heavy sinking
tip or sinking head. Other techniques that might work would be to use a
30 foot shooting head of 240gr type 6 sink rate with a running line or
to use a Teeny T300 fly line.
Some good patterns to consider for steelhead this time of year are the Polar Shrimp, Steves String Leech, Green Butt Skunk, Cooks Popsicles, Freight Train, River Rat Squids, Bead Head Buggers,Purple Peril, Steelhead Muddler,Glo Bugs, Bead Head Stonefly Nymphs and Bead Head Lifters. . Plan on using larger flies during the upcoming weeks to catch your summer steelhead. The water will be rising as the run off begins and the dams begin to let water out. Be versatile do what the situation demands. Most importantly make your presentation be seen by the fish so get down and slow in front of the fish.
Steve Grayson with a nice summer steelie from the Cowlitz on July10th. Caught on an Odine Special. fishing a greased line technique.
George Foshee with a nice early summer from late May 2008. Caught on the Cowlitz river using spey rod.
Ray Johnson with a nice 12 pound summer on at Blue Creek on the Cowlitz. Notice the clarity of water. The day was cold and water even colder. No other anglers present this day for several hours.
LARRY PETERSON from Lower Columbia Fly Fishers with a nice speckled sea trout from Tampa Bay, Florida. 3/24/08 Look at those teeth!!!!!!!!!
Ray Johnson fighting with a nice winter steelie from the Cowlitz river. 2/27/08
Another steelie by Ray Johnson 2/27/08. The 1st
first
fish after buying his new G Loomis 14 foot 9 weight Dredger Spey last
Monday 2/25/08.
Another
nice winter steelie
caught by George Foshee on the Cowlitz River on 2/23/08. Water level
7800 cfs and water temp 44 degrees. George was using a low
water
dressed size 4 Signal Light with Black Krystal Flash wing on a sinking
leader and 10 pound flourocarbon leader by Rio on a Templefork Deer
Creek series spey rod 12.5 feet, 5/6 weight.
Steves String Leech Size 4
Steves Halloween String Leech size 4 (Modified)
Landon Connorton with an early Sea Run
Late October Sea Run. More due any time
through the
first part of November. Caught on a custom size 1 Green Butt Skunk
Muddler tyed by Black Heron Fly Fishing.
November 8th, 2007, 8 pound Summer Steelie from Cowlitz River caught on a Steves Steelhead String Leech size 6
Landons Fishing Buddy Mr Pugeagle. Mr Pugeagle was so excited he manned the rafts bow during the fight with the mighty Mr Steelie who is still swimming the Cowlitz thanks to Landon.
Don Harris with a nice Summer Steelie from the Cowlitz River. Caught on a Bead Head October Caddis pattern size 8. November 4th, 2007. Don lost 2 other steelies that day while fishing the area below Blue Creek boat launch.
A perfect double of summer steelies by Don Harris from the Blue Creek area on the Cowlitz River. Don and his fishng buddy Roger Simpson hooked another 3 steelies on fly rods on November 10th, 2007.
JAMES COSMO WITH A NICE SUMMER STEELIE FROM THE COWLITZ RIVER WHILE FISHING WITH GUIDE JEFF TRAVER.
JAMES COSMO FIGHTING HIS SUMMER STEELIE ON THE COWLITZ RIVER.
RAY JOHNSON WITH ANOTHER PAIR OF STEELIES FROM BLUE CREEK AREA ON THE COWLITZ RIVER USING STEVE,S STRING LEECH SIZE 4. NOVEMBER 14TH, 2007. RAY SAID THE FISHING HAS BEEN FAST AND FURIOUS AT BLUE CREEK FOR THE FEW FLY ANGLERS WANTING TO BRAVE THE WEATHER.
PLEASE CHECKOUT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE TO SEE SMOLT RELEASES:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/harvest/06-07/smolts.htm
THIS IS A GREAT PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR ALL ANGLERS AND SHOULD INFLUENCE WHERE YOU FISH THIS WINTER AND NEXT SUMMER. CHECKOUT THE RELEASES ON THE COWLITZ, KALAMA, LEWIS AND OTHER MAJOR RIVERS.
Celna Briones Kendall's 2nd Sea Run from the Cowlitz October, 2005 caught and released. Photo Courtesy Black Heron Fly Fishing File
George Foshee with another pair of nice summer run steelies from the Blue Creek area. Photo taken 11/30/07 Georges fishing partner Ray Johnson lost 1 steelie fishing with George this day on the Cowlitz. River level was 6000 cfs.
Rays summer run from Cowlitz River on 12/13/07.
Ray Johnson with his first Chinook on a spey fly rod. Not bad for only his 4th week of fly fishing and its still swimming our there thanks to Ray. 12/14/07
Rays 15 pound winter steelie from the Cowlitz River using a spey rod on 12/20/07
Ray Johnson with a 12 pound summer run from the Cowlitz on 12/20/07 using his spey rod at Blue Creek.
Summer run buck from Cowlitz river caught on a Modified Marabou String Leech. Ray Johnson and George Foshee released two other fish on 1/12/08 from the Cowlitz.
1/12/07 Summer Steelie Caught by George Foshee.
Black Heron Fly Fishing
1060 14th Ave.
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-3970 office
www.blackheronflyfishing.com web page
johnkendall_56@msn.com email