Luck and hard work align in success for Cowlitz River smelt dippers

LONGVIEW — Last Wednesday’s Cowlitz River recreational smelt dip fishing was cold, windy and overall fruitful — at least for the people who worked hard and were a little lucky.

Sea lion barks at Gerhart Gardens Park boat ramp marked the 8 a.m. start of this year’s first — and potentially only — dip as a line of a few dozen fishers marched into the river with nets cast forward like bayonets.

Fears of another season without smelt were high after dippers came up empty-handed last year. State officials had cautioned that Wednesday may go the same way because the fish had not yet entered the Cowlitz by Tuesday morning.

“I don’t think we’re getting any,” 6-year-old Rex DeSoto called to his dad as the first wave of nets came up empty.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/23/luck-and-hard-work-align-in-success-for-cowlitz-river-smelt-dippers/