Anyone dipping smelt?

[CatyMae n Steve]

Wow, a lot of work for not many lil silver fishes! Steve and I dipped last night for a couple hours and got a whopping 16 smelt -- someone commented that they were acting like they'd found gold when anyone got one -- I've heard the commercials are charging about $1 apiece for them...pretty spendy! Sure hope the run improves -- may try again next Saturday to see if we can restock the freezer with sturgeon treats. :smile

 

[Pat Anderson]

My Mom used to buy smelt, dredge them in cornmeal and fry them up whole...didn't like them when I was a kid, don't like them now. Smelt - bait or food? I vote bait!

 

[CatyMae n Steve]

. . .Smelt - bait or food? I vote bait!

Bait, by all means! My mother used to fry them up too...wasn't MY favorite meal --- Dad tried to camoflauge them by smoking them, but I still knew they were smelt -- but I know sturgeon love them, so BAIT, they are! Hope we do better catching shad for sturgeon bait -- else I'm gonna need to find a source for squid!

 

[jimcinfra]

When I lived in Memphis I could buy smelt at the grocery store (knew about them from a "Yankee" uncle). I loved them!!!!.....for eating, not bait!

 

[Double D's]

Dolores and I went Saturday night with a couple of friends and got approx. 20 pounds near Castle Rock.
It took three hours and the most we ever got was 3 in one dip, quite a change from years past.
They were nearly all big males so hopefully there will be more to follow.
We would like to eat them but prefer Sturgeon so they will be used for bait.
Dale & Dolores
'DoubleD's'

 

[flapbreaker]

I've had poor luck using smelt to catch sturgeon but I've never had fresh smelt. My best luck has been using sandshrimp and squid. Caught about 50 shakers last week to get one keeper but was a lot of fun. Try Winco's freezer section for squid. It comes in a box.

DId you dip from your boat or is smelting a bank thing.

 

[Double D's]

We dipped from the bank after dark when they swim closer to shore. Fresh is always better it's just that the last few years they have been hard to come by. We also like to use sand shrimp and anchovies when we are in Tyboo's neck of the woods. I've tried Sturgeon Candy brand squid in a brine but never have bought it at Winco, will have to check it out.
Do you brine them or just straight?

 

[flapbreaker]

I just use straight squid, no brine. I don't use big pieces on my hooks, just an inch or two long.

 

[Double D's]

Thanks for the tip, next time we're at Winco we will check it out. Looking forward to seeing you on the river.
Dale

 

[sportner]

My buddy dipped for three hours on Saturday and got one, well, I guess

he's not that good of a buddy cuz he wouldn't share it...

 

[CatyMae n Steve]

My buddy dipped for three hours on Saturday and got one, well, I guess

he's not that good of a buddy cuz he wouldn't share it...

too funny

I tried Winco in Salem yesterday for frozen squid, but they didn't have any...next trip :wink

 

[Not For Hire]

No, No, No. Smelt dipping is a spring time occupation. Right now to catch smelt you go to Higgins or Crystal Lake (large, deep, clear lakes) at night. You drill three holes through eighteen inches of ice. You lower a light into one hole. You fish in the other two holes. You are crowded in with many other fisherfolks but that is a good thing as the lights are all cumulative. The photo-plankton (or whatever) is attracted followed by the smelt. You catch them on hook and line and reel them in at depths of of 20 to 60 feet m/l. On a good night you can catch 200 or so in a few hours.

Who ever heard of dipping smelt in February. Boy are you guys mixed up.

Regards,

Mark

 

[CatyMae n Steve]

No, No, No. Smelt dipping is a spring time occupation. ... You drill three holes through eighteen inches of ice. ...
Who ever heard of dipping smelt in February. Boy are you guys mixed up.

Regards,

Mark

spring 18" of ice....nahhhhhh...who's mixed up? 'round here in springtime, we're out boating...not drilling ice :wink

Caty