Cowlitz Hatchery Sea-Run Cutthroat.

[Breck]

This is one of my favorite fisheries. I typically use some variation of a reverse spider fly on a sinking fly line, let the line out almost to the backing, and then put the rods in rod holders and swing them back & forth with my drift boat (pretty much akin to pulling plugs method-wise). seems to be a deadly way to do it. This year's run seems to have a lot of fish, but in my experience, they have been kinda lock jawed. Maybe it's the low flows and low water?

Does anyone else hit the Cowlitz to target these feisty guys? I typically put my boat in at the I-5 launch and take out at Olequah.

 

[Dave Westburg]

One of my favorite fisheries. They are hatchery fish so it's OK to keep a few for the grill. I usually fish Blue Creek to Mission Bar. You can also find them in a few spots above Blue Creek. Here's a picture of PNW member @Greg Armstrong playing a cutt in the Blue Creek tailout.



Seems like the cutts start showing in late August downstream. By late October they are concentrated up by Blue Creek. You can see several hundred in the closed water at the hatchery outflow.

I like to fish classic wets (Dark Mackeral, Peter Ross, Connemara Black, Hares Ear, Invicta) on a heavier wire wet fly hook or steelhead hook so that the fly doesn't skate. It also helps in case you hook a summer steelhead which happens to me about once each fall.






Seems like last year the cutt returns were lower than normal.

 

[Merle]

I used to hit the Cowlitz often in September, hoping for a summer steelhead but happily settling for the much more cooperative SRC. I always hit the run directly above the Blue Creek boat launch and would use small wets that covered both the steelie and SRC spectrum.

Mike Sturza showed me his set up that used a tiny muddler tied ~10" off a blood knot, then the small wet about 4-6ft below. Swinging that set up worked well, getting about equal attention on the damp and the wet fly. I haven't been back down for a few years, but maybe this year.

 

[Paige]

Mikes reversed spider should be fished off a floating line with a pump and strip action and watch the big boys coem out from cover, anything less is sacrilege

Especially from a boat, the most exciting way to fish for them, that or stripping a dry across them!

 

[Dave Westburg]

Mike Sturza by the way is an outstanding Cowlitz cutthroat and steelhead guide. Fly fishing only, swinging the fly. I use him several times a year. He also operates a fly shop.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service, Guiding the Cowlitz River, Wa.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service. Fly Fish guiding trips on the Cowlitz River, Lewis River, South Fork of the Toutle River, Chehalis River, Kalama River, Fly Fishing Guide service for rivers in South West Washington. Lost Creek Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Supplies, Fly Rods, Spey Rods and more...

www.lostcreekflies.com

 

[Breck]

Mike Sturza by the way is an outstanding Cowlitz cutthroat and steelhead guide. Fly fishing only, swinging the fly. I use him several times a year. He also operates a fly shop.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service, Guiding the Cowlitz River, Wa.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service. Fly Fish guiding trips on the Cowlitz River, Lewis River, South Fork of the Toutle River, Chehalis River, Kalama River, Fly Fishing Guide service for rivers in South West Washington. Lost Creek Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Supplies, Fly Rods, Spey Rods and more...

www.lostcreekflies.com

He also runs shuttles...or at least he used to.

 

[goinoregon]

Mike Sturza by the way is an outstanding Cowlitz cutthroat and steelhead guide. Fly fishing only, swinging the fly. I use him several times a year. He also operates a fly shop.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service, Guiding the Cowlitz River, Wa.

Mike Sturza Fly Fishing Guide Service. Fly Fish guiding trips on the Cowlitz River, Lewis River, South Fork of the Toutle River, Chehalis River, Kalama River, Fly Fishing Guide service for rivers in South West Washington. Lost Creek Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Supplies, Fly Rods, Spey Rods and more...

www.lostcreekflies.com

thx for mentioning mr sturza. will look into him.
go

 

[Stonedfish]

anything less is sacrilege

I’ve really enjoyed nymphing for cutts with a Copper John or Lightning Bug.

I can’t recall the year but 23,000+ cutts returned. I could probably find the year by searching old hatchery return reports. It’s never been close to that since as I think they reduced the plant numbers.
SF

 

[Paige]

I’ve really enjoyed nymphing for cutts with a Copper John or Lightning Bug.

I can’t recall the year but 23,000+ cutts returned. I could probably find the year by searching old hatchery return reports. It’s never been close to that since as I think they reduced the plant numbers.
SF

Yeah, they like lightning bugs!

 

[DerekWhipple]

I fished this pretty frequently the last few years. Unfortunately missed the "good 'ole days". Mike told me that there was some pond that they raised some of the cutts, and those pond fish came back pretty big. I swing all kinds of flies for them, but my favorite is a smaller october caddis wet, or a muddler. Also a good way to catch a steelhead, I use a 4wt for a better chance with the steelhead, and to throw larger flies if I want to.

 

[Salmo_g]

I usually catch SRC incidental to summer steelhead fishing on the Cowlitz. But every now and again, I target the cutthroat. Like yesterday. Maybe lock-jawed; I caught only 3. I've caught that many and more while targeting steelhead. I fish a floating line just cuz, and my fly patterns are size 6 or 8 Spade, Muddler Minnow, or October caddis. Yesterday it was the Muddler they liked.

 

[Peyton00]

90's and 00's, I fished off the island almost every trip. Float my single man raft to the top of the island below blue creek boat launch. Fish the islands all day and raft my ass back to trail side, breakdown and pack out. . During summer low flows I would cross on foot above the island and walk up river on center line of Island , step left and make my way back to trail side shore before I hit the chute.

 

[flyb0rg]

The first fish I ever saw caught on a fly rod was an SRC on the Cowlitz in Lexington, before the mountain blew. That singular moment captivated me and essentially launched my entire life's trajectory. Ironically, I've only ever tried fishing SRC's once despite living on the river during my early years. I'd like to get out and give it a shot one of these days, especially since it's a slow year on the Kalama.