Sakakawea Smelt

[300sktr]

When does the smelt run happen on the big lake? Any likely areas to try for them? Would be fun to get some to eat and also freeze up for bait.

 

[MSA]

Northwestern boatramps at night, as early as this weekend. Id say from douglas bay west.

 

[Vollmer]

Should be a good hatch again with water expected to continually rise for a bit here.

 

[fj40]

Look for gravel, not sand. Water temps should be around 45, if I recall. Gotta be dark.

 

[Lungdeflator]

I have heard Van Hook area is good. I would love to get a bunch to freeze for bait. 2$ a piece at the bait shop is ridiculous.

 

[eyexer]

it'll be a bit yet. water still too cold

 

[wildeyes]

Had some wild times back in the day doing this on the Mo. lanterns and smelt nets and did i say beer lots of beer.

 

[You]

I have heard Van Hook area is good. I would love to get a bunch to freeze for bait. 2$ a piece at the bait shop is ridiculous.

I haven't seen a '$2 jumbo equivalent' in the Missouri system before. Most I've seen are 3-4", 5" would be big from what I've seen. I do want some as well but to batter and consume.

 

[deleted_account]

what does smelt taste like and how do you prepare them?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Would be nice if someone would post once they take off. Ive been wanting to get up there for this for a few years now but always seem to miss it...

 

[NodakBuckeye]

Remove heads, remove guts, dredge in favorite dry mix (I pour beer over fish then dredge) deep fry and enjoy. They are not oily or fishy at all. Like fish french fries. Bones just cook up.... good eats

 

[300sktr]

With huge amounts of smelt in Centenial and Steinke Bay this winter I would think this would be a possibility. Lots of rock and gravel there. Anybody ever try those spots?

 

[Lycanthrope]

easiest way to fill up fast is with a seine, unfortunately in ND you need a bait vendor license to use one. NDGF's paranoia of nets amazes me, wish they would reconsider some of these regs...

 

[wildeyes]

The scoop nets we used, at times filled a 5 gal bail pretty quick. the water with the light on it was silver with smelt. the best time to eat smelt was fresh still kicking in the fry pan fresh. If you freeze them not as good.

 

[Kurtr]

what does smelt taste like and how do you prepare them?

Every story has alot of drinking involved I thought they tasted great till I ate some sober. I think they are horrible

 

[NodakBuckeye]

You must have had some bad ones

 

[Kurtr]

fresh out of lake oahe and made the same way i had when hammered and thought good. They are bait.

 

[NodakBuckeye]

Haha, well beer does amazing things to bait and ugly women!

 

[HolePuncher]

Smelt is next in line to store bought fish sticks...

 

[eyexer]

Smelt is next in line to store bought fish sticks...

and you don't want to know what's in fish sticks ;:;rofl