Whenever the bobber goes down, count to three before setting the hook. The old-timers of the river will tell you that on a bobber-jig setup setting the hook any sooner will pull the hook out of their mouths.

Leader length should range from 4 to 6 feet.

Here’s a great technique of making the most out of the drift for jigs. As the jig and bobber head out of the eddy and into the pool, rather than reeling in after about 20 feet, walk with the drift for as far as you can. This is what I call “power jig” fishing, and many times it works on the first drift, due to the extended length of the drift.

To fish both spoons and jigs effectively, the best scents for this time of year are shrimp and crayfish, which work very well with corkies.

To drift-fish corkies in K-2, fish in deep, fast water where the biggest fish gravitate. Since this river is riddled with boulders and snags, slinkies are the best weighting system to use when fishing corkies.

Casting is not a problem, but depth can be. Obviously, the deeper you want to fish, the more weight you need to use. To fish near the surface, simply reduce the amount of weight to glide.

Pencil lead is perfect for this technique, since each drift will never come within contact of the bed -- and if any movement of the main line takes place, it will be from a steelie’s take.

Tie yarn directly to an egg-loop to apply scent. When shrimp and crayfish scents don’t produce, try putting on some “squid” scent. Scents are considered bait, but the true baits are a secret weapon when fish have lockjaw.

Baits vie with corkies for river superiority. When corkies fail, then head straight to bait, which offers the ultimate in natural profile, regardless of how large or small it may be. Real shrimp, crayfish, worms and eggs produce when all others don’t.

For fishing K-2, your best option is to take both bait and corkies. Traditionally, the most difficult thing about bait is that it’s not hard and therefore, casting is limited. But since this section of the river isn’t wide at all, baits stay on longer than on most any other sections of the system.

When the fishing is good, bait can often run low by midday, but you can actually get restocked while out in the field. Not far from the hold, just a few miles from K-2, there’s Barrier Campground Store. It has saved me a couple of times when gear broke down or I forgot something at home.

The store is on Fuller Road just off Spencer Road near the Salmon hatchery. The knowledgeable staff has seen it, heard it, and done it all. Stop in and see a 27-pound native steelhead caught less than a mile away.

I know many of the anglers in the area personally, and they know all about how to fish the river. They are kind enough to share information with anyone willing to ask.

These hidden holes of the Cowlitz are part of a system that produces the largest run of winter steelhead in the state. Now you know some secrets. But more than knowing simply the location and fishing techniques, it’s imperative to check the hydrograph monitoring system and weather.