Roy, I've used both Trudy (360) 864-2277 or Matt (360) 864-2388. Matt works at his real job on Mon through Fri. Trudy seems to always be available.
Both lives near the Mission Bar takeout, which is below the Blue Creek launch.

Don

 

Yes, this is an easy float.

 

At 3,200 - 3,500 cfs, it should be relatively easy. When flows were lower earlier in the year, some of the tailouts were pretty thin on the float from Blue Creek to Mission.

Steve

 

Good to hear, thanks Don for the contact info.

 

..but are there fish other that small cutts? The Cow is on the downfall, read the gear sites. I'd cont' to hit the salt for BIG silvers,etc.

 

Yes, the Cowlitz summer steelhead returns were awful this year; there were problems at the hatchery during the production of the smolts that became this year's return. I have not heard that there has been any problems at the salmon hatchery that should impact this year's return of kings and silvers, beyond the usual variation due to oceanic conditions. Reports from the mouth of the Toutle have been good; some of those are Cowlitz fish.

For a flyfisher, I would say that one is most likely to be intercepting cutts this year, with an outside chance at a steelhead. I've never run into pods of silvers, but that might just be a timing issue. There are kings there, but they like the deeper holes that aren't as amenable to flyfishing.

Steve

 

Roy,
I've floated that section many times in a small pontoon. A few times this Summer and Fall. It's one of my favorite floats. You are not as likely to tie in to steelhead in this section as below Blue Creek but they are definitely there and can be taken. Also, most of the time--especially during the week-- you're likely to have the whole river to yourself. There's some great flywater in that stretch and some beautiful scenery. Steelhead, Cutts, and now quite possibly some Coho could be taken. I haven't been down that stretch in over a month but am thinking of doing it again soon.
It's definitely worth doing once to check it out.

 

Ya, i just want to scout new waters. If I catch anything that would be a bonus.
I was very skeptical to floating it during the summer because all them Jet Sleds just seem to not give a hoot about anglers on the rocks, whats more to say if I was fly fishing of a 13' Kayak.

That's why I am planning it now since there is hardly any boat traffic on the river.

 

Roy,

All section of the Cowlitz are easy floats. Call Trudy for shuttle as described above.

There aren't many steelhead this year, but the cutthroat fishing is fair. The coho are coming, and it is supposed to be a large run. All the boats are presently in the lower river, but they'll be launching at Barrier Dam soon when they begin to show in large numbers and stack up at Baker Rock about a mile or so downriver. At least that's what I remember from the last time it was a 6 fish limit on coho.

Sg