Oahe, Smelt, thoughts?

[Rowdie]

I found this article from 2023. It's a pretty good read. I just don't see Oahe ever having smelt runs like the 80's and 90's ever again. Sure had some fun times pulling sain nets full of gallons of smelt.
https://midwestliprippers.com/2023/01/29/a-deep-dive-into-lake-oahe/

 

[Wall-eyes]

Yes was fun not with crazy low waters no more.

 

[Kurtr]

Fish were puking up smelt this winter and the amount of lake herring we caught was like never before. They are even catching them this spring out of boats. Unless we have years of stable water dont see the smelt ever getting back to those levels of the 80's and 90's.

 

[Rowdie]

Back then even with low water levels there were still a ton of smelt. One year I remember we were seining below the concrete at the East ramp at Indian Creek in Mobridge.

Another year it was the early 90's and I remember pulling into town about 5 am and I went right to Indian Creek ramp. The low water ramp at Indian Creek had some guys so I pulled in to the fire. It was burned way down and they were both passed out. One guy was hugging an empty half G of Lord Calvert curled up in the fetal position by the fire in his waders. So I grabbed one of their lights and started checking. Their buckets had maybe a dozen. I shined the water and they were running hard! I tried waking them up but they were OUT.

 

[Lycanthrope]

they really should allow casting nets for catching smelt and make it a legal live bait fish in all ND waters...

 

[Rowdie]

In SD its legal to seine. I know that the guy who ran the baitshop in Yates in the 90's used seine nets. They used to run in Yates really good back then too from all the stories I hear.

 

[Kurtr]

they really should allow casting nets for catching smelt and make it a legal live bait fish in all ND waters...

just come south they are legal here

 

[scrotcaster]

Fish were puking up smelt this winter and the amount of lake herring we caught was like never before. They are even catching them this spring out of boats. Unless we have years of stable water dont see the smelt ever getting back to those levels of the 80's and 90's.

You actuallly caught the lake herring ? do you eat them ? this makes me curious. How big are they ? are they by catches or were you targeting them ?

 

[Jiffy]

just come south they are legal here

I’m moving one state south…for many reasons.

 

[Rowdie]

You actuallly caught the lake herring ? do you eat them ? this makes me curious. How big are they ? are they by catches or were you targeting them ?

We seen a few someone left on the ice this year. First time I've ever seen that.

 

[Kurtr]

You actuallly caught the lake herring ? do you eat them ? this makes me curious. How big are they ? are they by catches or were you targeting them ?

Ya caught a shit ton of the stinky things. They hammer jigging raps . Do not target they are a by product of fishing walleyes.

 

[Jiffy]

We catch a pile of those on the Red. It’s always a hodgepodge of various species on Ye Ole Red River of the North.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Ya caught a shit ton of the stinky things. They hammer jigging raps . Do not target they are a by product of fishing walleyes.

Those might make good live bait for monster pike... I can imagine with the tail cut off and hanging under a big old bobber, they would get some attention.

 

[Valleywatcher]

We catch a pile of those on the Red. It’s always a hodgepodge of various species on Ye Ole Red River of the North.

maybe skip jack. doubt the red deep enough for ciscos

 

[Kurtr]

Those might make good live bait for monster pike... I can imagine with the tail cut off and hanging under a big old bobber, they would get some attention.

Some guys have kept a few to try also using them behind flashers for salmon

 

[Jiffy]

maybe skip jack. doubt the red deep enough for ciscos

Very possible. I always thought a “skipjack” was a golden eye. Could be wrong I guess.

 

[Kurtr]

Very possible. I always thought a “skipjack” was a golden eye. Could be wrong I guess.

I find it easier to just call them all shit fish it covers a wide variety

 

[Jiffy]

Very true

 

[tikkalover]

How do they smoke??

 

[risingsun]

How do they smoke??

ONLY in designated areas.