Best way to store smelt???

[bob-n-jig]

I found some smelt today.....alot of smelt.....myself and wobble glo ran into shrimp&worms on the sandy

2 limits of smelt on the bank or in the truck....no big deal.......in my kitchen fridge....different story.....

this is my wife to the right of this sentence :mad:

so I want to save these guys for bait....hopefully to use on ifish trips..... :rolleyes: ......

I've got a vacuum packer and freezer space galore.....

should I pack them in dozen packs....2 dozen packs.....

[ 02-21-2003, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: bob-n-jig ]

[Green Machine]

I pack them a single dozen to a bag, then vacuum pack them. One dozen uses more bags, but you don't waste as much bait. I throw three bags per trip (more at estuary), and open them as needed. Saves a lot on those slow days. :depressed: Make sure you harden them up a little in the freezer before vacuum packing. The wife does NOT appreciate smelt juice in the Food Saver!! :shocked:

Green Machine

[norms gone fishing too]

try frezzing them befor you pack them in what ever size you want i use 24-30 per pack this keeps the jucie out of you vacum packer
try some sents in there too

norm

[emptynet]

We put a bunch on a cookie sheet to partially freeze them and then vacuum them. Keeps them from getting all squishy. A dozen or so to a bag.

[dampainter]

put your smelt in the bag then put a folded paper towel or two on top and vacuum, works good .

[biederboat]

Unless the cost isn't an issue (vacuum bags are expensive), I wouldn't worry about vacuum packing. I put in freezer bags (curent batch is 4 years old) which can be rezipped and reused. Just used some a month or two ago and they worked just fine.

I use the quart size and put about 12-20 in each one depending on size.

Biederboat