Burns Fishing Supplies : Cowlitz River

April 17, 2012: Cowlitz River - Excellent fishing for spring Chinook.

Boat limited out before 1:30 PM using diver and cut plug herring rigs. 12-24 pound fish. Nice chrome-bright hatchery spring Chinook. Look for good springer fishing in the

next few weeks on the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Also above Bonneville

Dam on the Columbia at Drano Lake and Wind River outlet.

Fished the Columbia below the mouth of the Cowlitz and at Dibley Beach,

Oregon on the weekend of April 21-22. Two springers from 3 fishermen

and our boat caught 12-14 pound fish. Fishing wasn't quite on fire

yet. Seems like the main group of springers hasn't come through at this time.

Kitsap Lake continues to be wide open on the trout bite. Trolling spinners and small spoons or cast masters on a flat line work great. The fish are on top since the weather is getting warmer and the water temperature has come up a few degrees. Look for more lakes to be opening on the 28th. All stocked lakes should be pretty good fishing in Kitsap, Jefferson, Mason, Pierce and Thurston Counties.

Junior Pro-Staff Ryan Hartley

My name is Ryan Hartley, and I have grown up fishing. I remember the first time my dad took me fishing when I was little. He took me to a river that he fished in as a kid. I was so excited catching rainbow trout from the river bank. Ever since then I have been addicted to fishing. I am lucky enough to have 8 lakes within walking distance of my house. Within these 8 lakes I can catch bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, carp, shad and maybe even some others. I was a camper at the Georgia Trout Camp during the summer of 2013, and then returned as a youth mentor in 2014. I received the "Julie Stalnaker" award for doing good job as a mentor. The award named after a woman who was an active TU member and conservationist in our area. Sadly she passed from cancer. I was honored to receive it.