Luck and hard work align in success for Cowlitz River smelt dippers • Washington State Standard

Luck and hard work align in success for Cowlitz River smelt dippers • Washington State Standard

A line of dipnetters search for smelt at Gerhart Gardens Park on Feb. 18 in Longview. (Photo by Henry Brannan/The Columbian)LONGVIEW — Last Wednesday’s Cowlitz River recreational smelt dip fishing was cold, windy and overall fruitful — at least for the people who worked hard and were a little lucky. Sea lion barks at Gerhart Gardens Park boat ramp marked the 8 a.m. start of this year’s first — and potentially only — dip as a line of a few dozen …