Smelt action

[Rod Caster]

Nipfisher, Joeytier, Jim jigger and I hit the river tonight and we caught the beginning of the run. In total I think we netted 50 or 60 smelt. This will pick up over the next week I imagine.

The best thing about the run so far is the size of the smelt we are catching!! biggest one approached 9inches and the average was around 6-7 inches! I like the high meat to cleaning effort ratio.

 

One thing to note: the lucky strike nets that Canadian Tire sell are complete crap. Why haven't they come out with a better product??? If someone could make a composite (like the hockey sticks) net, they would be a hero in my mind. I'd gladly pay $50 for a net that will last 5 years versus three disposable nets every year at 19.99 each.

 

Had fun tonight boys, we'll have to do it again.

 

 

 

[marrex_mike]

nice catch!! I havent seen smelts like that in years! there huge

[Nipfisher]

I cleaned over 40 last night. I'm guessing you had about 30 making our # close to 70. Biggest one I had was around 8 inches. I kept a few biggies to salt and freeze for the big pike.

 

 

My lucky strike net held up but my folding Rapala net now requires a new handle. Good times.

 

Here is a picture I took this morning. On pack is frozen and the other will be consumed today.

 

Edited April 20, 2011 by Nipfisher

[LucG]

Looks like yous have a successful outing!

 

I've never gone smelt fishing, is 70 a good number?

[Nipfisher]

Looks like yous have a successful outing!

 

I've never gone smelt fishing, is 70 a good number?

 

 

Luc when they run 1 guy can easilly get 70 an hour. There was 4 of us and we were at the creek for 3 hours.

[Dara]

So, still kinda slow eh..oh well...its all fun

[Nipfisher]

Here is the in-between pictures. The after shots will ake a day or 2

 

 

The 3 on the left were just cut and scooped out. The others I sliced down one side of the back bone for easier (faster) cooking.

 

I used Italian flavoured Fish Crisp and Salt/pepper. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Washing it down with a cold beer right now.

 

[Nipfisher]

So, still kinda slow eh..oh well...its all fun

 

Should be good on the weekend.

[kickingfrog]

Nipissing walleye would never eat those things.

 

... But I sure would.

[Rod Caster]

Here is the in-between pictures. The after shots will ake a day or 2

 

The 3 on the left were just cut and scooped out. The others I sliced down one side of the back bone for easier (faster) cooking.

 

I used Italian flavoured Fish Crisp and Salt/pepper. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Washing it down with a cold beer right now.

 

 

Looks good man!!! I like the butterfly cut, I'll try that next time.

 

My smelt are still sitting in my bucket in the fridge. Fell asleep at 2:30am and got called out to Parry Sound at 6! ouch! Tough day, yet I'd probably go smelting tonight if I was in town. I sure hope I'm back in town for thursday night

 

...the smelt are calling, will you answer the phone?

[Joeytier]

You'd need snowshoes to go smelting tonight

[Thrasher]

was out, in the snow, last night, 2 of us managed a full 5 gal pail in a couple hours. There weren't running full steam, but I've scooped for a lot less! were getting some scoops as big as 40-50 in it, but they were the biggest scoops, on average about a third of that. We're not serious scoopers, more of a social, but nice to bring home some bait!

Thrasher

[Leecher]

Nipfisher, Joeytier, Jim jigger and I hit the river tonight and we caught the beginning of the run. In total I think we netted 50 or 60 smelt. This will pick up over the next week I imagine.

The best thing about the run so far is the size of the smelt we are catching!! biggest one approached 9inches and the average was around 6-7 inches! I like the high meat to cleaning effort ratio.

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/guertin/smeltapr19-2.jpg

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/guertin/smeltapr19-1.jpg

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/guertin/Smeltapr19.jpg

 

Sweet!!! Those would be perfect for salties

[Twocoda]

yummy!!!! nice scoopin guys...