The Smelt Poll

[Fast Water]

The question is:

How many out there enjoy eating smelt and how many would rather starve than eat one of those silver bullets?

[MasterCaster]

I had fried smelt once and never again.

I have had smoked smelt a couple times and its not too bad but doubt if Ill ever eat it again. Just dont like the thought of eating bait! :grin:

I voted once or twice but that was enough. Closest I could come to.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[bait boy]

I have to quantify my answer. I am from NH, we actually fish for them to eat. I have eaten my fair share of smelt but not since moving out here.

[Mr. Fisherman]

I have a :smile: FANTASTIC :smile: Smelt recipe!

First, make sure to catch your Smelt fresh from a river close to where you are going to prepare it.

Make sure to ice your catch quickly for best results.

To get the best flavor make sure to put the Smelt into plastic bags and keep the ice water from coming into contact with the fresh little treasures until it is time to prepare them for the table.

Carefully pat the smelt dry taking care not to remove any scales or to damage the precious cheeks or gills.

Thread the Smelt onto a length of dacron line, return it to the river from whence it came. This brining method is a lost technique from long lost trappers and early pioneers. I think they used to use Hemp line.

Wait for a sign that your Smelt is done. It goes kind of like this....

Doink, DOINK Wiggle WIGgle WIGGLE zzzZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Now your carefully prepared Smelt is curing in the belly of a beautiful tasty Sturgeon. Remove the Smelt by carefully filleting the Sturgeon.

Cut the Sturgeon into 1" Cubes and marinate in Italian salad dressing.

Salt and pepper the cubes.

Place the cubes into foil packets brushed with vegitable oil with a dollop of butter. Seal the edges.

Place foil packets on the grill for 5 minutes per side.

Open the packets carefully and drizzle with lemon juice.

Enjoy your wonderful Smelt dinner with a nice glass of Northwest wine and some pleasent company.

Plant the Smelt complete in the Sturgeon carcus in your garden so you can enjoy fresh vegitables with your catch this fall.

Repeat as necessary...

Enjoy,

[ 01-27-2003, 06:15 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

[Walleyed]

Smelt are a funny thing.We had it fryed when I was a kid and I can't say I loved it, I just would eat it.But after school all ous kids would line up and get to pull one or two of those little shrunk up, dryed up ,smoked up, nasty looking things out of an old maio.jar.
Run out to the frount porch,bite off it's head,Slowly cracking open its back and rolling out the most mouth watering,sweet tasting
smoked smelt.
Think I alomst lost myself in the moment. Got to say If I could have smelt smoked like pappy smoked it,We'll it would be hard to give up for bait....

[Fast Water]

My goal is to smoke some this year. I hear there are very good that way. I can imagine that the brine time is significatly reduced. What would you say, about an hour? Anyone?

Thanks

:smile:

[Sturgeon Tom]

My Grandmother use to cook it when I was a kid and we all loved it. No one remembers how she did it.
Mr Fisherman Lacking Grandmother way, I like your recipe.

[fishchaser]

I guess I was lucky as a kid. I never HAD to eat it.

My sisters heard I went Smelt dipping and just about lost their lunch over the phone. My mother used to cook a mess of smelt when they were younger and forced them to eat it. I never was forced. I liked the fish. :shocked:

I eat a few, but I could take it or leave it. I do have one sister who just loves to send her husband out to get smelt, but he doesn't know how to dip, So when they come back in I think I should show him how, so my sis, can have some smoked smelt. Least I can do for a family member. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[KingFisher85]

I smoke my smelt. I like to smoke them, and then take them fishing or hiking. They pack really good. Been told that they work really good with beer but I could not tell you that you would have to find out on your own. :grin:

[parthur]

Do you also eat:

Cured salmon/steelhead eggs
Frozen herring
Sandshrimp
Worm's
Flies/Asst bugs
Pickled Eel/Squid/ Shad
First Cast Jigs

Just a thought

Smoke them until they're hard and they are tasty.

:shocked: Don't eat jigs!! They're hard to pass :shocked:

[ 01-27-2003, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[KingFisher85]

parthur, out of your list, shirmp :grin: and Squid :grin:

[crabbait]

parther - from your list, have tried all but the sand shrimp and jigs. Voluntarily without monetary reward: all but the bugs, worms, sandshrimp and jigs.

[fisheromen]

My dad and grandparents lived out near troutdale and have all kinds of stories about how smelt were a staple for everyone who lived out there.

Interesting Factoid: It seems that the name Oregon is probably from an indian word for smelt. Proving they were very popular back then as well.

If they are nicely cooked they are good and smoked they are good too. Not great, just good - they aren't salmon or sturgeon. Certainly not bad when you are on a budget (they are FREE) and/or trying to eat healthy.

[Fast Water]

Some Smelt links:

The Oregon - Smelt Link
Another Ooligan link


Hatfield Marine Science Center

I didn't know there are 5 different species in our area...

:smile:

[ 01-28-2003, 12:58 AM: Message edited by: Fast Water ]

[Fishplay]

I cleaned and ate enough smelt as a kid to last me the rest of my lifetime.

They're strictly bait now!!

[bucketmouth]

Been eating them since I was a kid. Love them. Fry them up in a bread crumb mix like progresso herb and garlic. They're great!

Some folks like them smoked too.

Tried using them as crab bait once. Did not do well. Went back to the shad.