John Han of Vancouver, from left, gets a hand from his son, Andrew, 13, as his father, Jaedeok, looks on as three generations of fishermen enjoy the smelt event along the Cowlitz River on Tuesday ...

Ah, smelt. Despite the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) best intentions to provide us with smelt dipping opportunities, the first two days were not approved. Fishery managers ...

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. Read story ...

"It is normal for this time of year. Sea lions will follow the smelt run as it comes up the river in the early part of the year especially around the Cowlitz and Sandy Rivers and in between ...