Smelt Fishing in the Cowlitz River

The 2026 smelt return is expected to be slightly less than the 10-year average of 8.6 million pounds to the Columbia River. Some of these fish will enter the Cowlitz River and provide an opportunity for YN enrolled members to harvest smelt. Therefore, the Fish & Wildlife Committee hereby authorizes Smelt Fishing in the Cowlitz River from February 1, 2026, through March 28, 2026.