A smelt dip on the Cowlitz River brings about a festival atmosphere as folks gather to have fun, and hopefully end up with a mess of smelt. (Terry Otto for The Columbian) Smelt-dipping will return to ...

The state House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that affects a rite of passage practiced by generations of Washingtonians with a license — smelt dipping. Smelt, also called a candlefish, is ...

A smelt dip on the Cowlitz River brings about a festival atmosphere as folks gather to have fun, and hopefully end up with a mess of smelt. (Terry Otto for The Columbian) RIDGEFIELD — There will be ...

Feb. 12—Smelt-dipping will return to the banks of the Cowlitz River as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved a one-day recreational fishery on Thursday, Feb. 15. During ...

Mar. 8—Smelt dippers will return to the banks of the Cowlitz River as the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved recreational fisheries for Wednesday, March 12, and Saturday, ...

Mar. 12—Anglers from across the Pacific Northwest took to the banks of the Cowlitz River on Wednesday, March 12, for the opening of the state's brief smelt dipping season. All it took was a few empty ...

Smelt’s annual return from the ocean has long drawn thousands of dip-netters up and down the Cowlitz River. This year, however, the prized tradition will be different. The Washington Department of ...

A late, strong showing of smelt are in the Sandy River, allowing approval of a one-day dipping season Thursday, from noon to 7 p.m. Unlike traditional all-comers dipping seasons, smelt are now ...

Standing on the banks of the Sandy River, Oregon, at 11:45 on Thursday morning, parents, grandparents and kids jostled for a good spot and ready their nets. Below, in the clear water, thousands of ...

Smelt-dipping will return to the banks of the Cowlitz River Thursday. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the one-day recreational fishery from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fishery ...