Thousands go home empty-handed after one-day smelt fishery
(AP) — Washington state's Department of Fish and Wildlife opened up a highly anticipated one-day season for smelt fishing on the lower Cowlitz River — but maybe no one told the smelt.
Saturday's short season was intended to serve as research fishery, but also to keep a minimal connection between the public and once-plentiful species.
The decision to open the season came after officials tracked catch rates in a commercial test fishery in the lower Columbia.