Smelt Run on Oahe

[Rowdie]

Starting this thread like a report thread, but have some other topics

If the smelt start to run anywhere on Oahe, or if you hear of them running, can you please post it.

Just wondering how big of a run is expected on Oahe?

If you can give water temps that would help also. It was 44.5 at Ft Rice on 3/13

 

[Rizzo]

Water temp at beaver on Sunday was 42.3. That's all I've got

 

[You]

I would love to do this. I don't know where to start though.

 

[Sum1]

Has there been a smelt run in recent years? Last time I seen one was in high school about 20 years ago.

 

[Kurtr]

We have gotten a few three years ago was good.

 

[dean nelson]

Has there been a smelt run in recent years? Last time I seen one was in high school about 20 years ago.

The last recorded real run of smelt on the north dakota side of oahe was back in 96. This year there are around thirty million smelt in the lake compared to the one billion back in 96 so needless to say don't hold your breath. Mind you the smelt run sucked! Get a few good weeks of fishing then the smelt roll in and you may as well go fish somewhere else because the river will be a dead sea from a few weeks!

 

[Sum1]

Thats what I remember. You couldnt buy a bite when the smelt were running. You could hold a lantern over the water and there was a steady stream of smelt swimming by. It was pretty cool.

 

[Wildyote]

There has been moderate to small smelt runs on upper Oahe in the last 10 years nothing like Sak right now though. Beaver Bay had a fair # of them around during ice out last year because we caught some with small jigs. I also had them light up the vexilar several times after dark. I have seen them around Hazelton before the flood also.

 

[dean nelson]

Yeah and we are seeing some all the way up in Bismarck but that seems to be a whole other beast. No proof to back it up but would guess as a cold water bait fish they disperse out into nontraditional areas during winter since the full water column is cool. Back when we had a smelt run the true run didn't kick off till mid April to mid may so what we see now will probably retreat back south of the border fairly fast like a bunch of Mexicans being chased by the I.N.S. as the water warms. The date i listed for the last true run is not my number its the one the game and Fish List In Their data.

 

[NodakBuckeye]

Tasty little buggers

 

[You]

There has been moderate to small smelt runs on upper Oahe in the last 10 years nothing like Sak right now though.

So there's a pretty decent run on Sak? I'd like to try. Does anyone have more info to share?

 

[Rowdie]

Mobridge has had some decent to good runs over the last decade. Very spotty however. Not like the 90's or 80's though.

 

[Kurtr]

Tasty little buggers

I was always told that they were good but every story i heard involved cleaning them at 2 am and being drunker than hell. Well i took some home and made them for supper and wow they are better as bait than eating. I made them just like i was told and another guy came over that really liked to eat them. He found out he does not like to eat them sober. I see why every story involved beer.

 

[Fishmission]

From the clouds of smelt I graphed last year I would think there's got to be a couple of bays that will be decent on Sak

 

[Rowdie]

I was always told that they were good but every story i heard involved cleaning them at 2 am and being drunker than hell. Well i took some home and made them for supper and wow they are better as bait than eating. I made them just like i was told and another guy came over that really liked to eat them. He found out he does not like to eat them sober. I see why every story involved beer.

I haven't had them for years, but from what I've seen, they die right away. I'd clean them ASAP, while at the river. They look pretty nasty by the time you get home. I think if a guy would clean them and take care of them instantly, and properly, it would go a long way with the way they turn out. If you cut one in half, they are all nice white fish meat.

 

[Kurtr]

I haven't had them for years, but from what I've seen, they die right away. I'd clean them ASAP, while at the river. They look pretty nasty by the time you get home. I think if a guy would clean them and take care of them instantly, and properly, it would go a long way with the way they turn out. If you cut one in half, they are all nice white fish meat.

we cleaned them right away but did not fry them till the next day. Usually anything deep fried is good they tasted like the bull head i caught in july i had my dad make when i was a kid. With about 15 bud lights they would have tasted dang good

 

[guywhofishes]

we cleaned them right away but did not fry them till the next day. Usually anything deep fried is good they tasted like the bull head i caught in july i had my dad make when i was a kid. With about 15 bud lights they would have tasted dang good

ultra-greasy beer-battered fish is like that for me. if I've been drinking it's awesome, if not, I'll pass

- - - Updated - - -

by the way - why not filet them? sorta like dove hunting in that regard

 

[Kurtr]

ultra-greasy beer-battered fish is like that for me. if I've been drinking it's awesome, if not, I'll pass

- - - Updated - - -

by the way - why not filet them? sorta like dove hunting in that regard

you would have to be really handy to fillet them. i would have a better chance of chopping my finger off hahah.

 

[5575]

The rivers full of fatties right now!


Just kidding..

 

[Captain Ahab]

The rivers full of fatties right now!


Just kidding..

Ha ha, gotta love Erie to get everybody's panties in a bunch.