My personal opinion: I prefer the males. I've noticed at times the gators would suck the eggs from the females and then leave 'em alone. The females are softer and when I rig my baits I will make three or four slices into the side of the smelt on each side to release more of the good stuff. When you do that with the females you risk cuttin' the belly and messing up the bait.
I know there are people that prefer the females, last year while dipping there was an older gent that I was giving my females to, and he loved it.
Tacklebuster and 5-Cents are the ones who's opinions count alot (among others) on gator baitin'.
Smj
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Member# 332
I'll share the road....When they start paying for it!
Now don't laugh , try this first and then if you want to laugh go ahead. Rig the smelt with the half hiches then lay it on the floor of the boat or other flat place, now step on it so it is smashed good. Throw it in and see what happens.
I have done this after hearing about it and it worked well, you don't want to smash it to the point that the bait is falling apart. The males work better for this.
Fishalot
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Team Sneakin Out winner of 04 Sturgeon Challenge
The Lord knows His Sheep
If I had to choose..... I would go with the females that have been dipped down near the estuary. I use those first because they are small and full of scent when the smelt run is in full force. The smelt that I dip up river, I vac pac and freeze for after the smelt run is over. Those fish go nuts over those small females full of eggs that are dipped down low. This works especially when the river is full of smelt and everyone is using the big males. Look at it this way, after a huge Thanksgiving dinner, you probably wouldn't want anything to do with eating another plate of food a couple of hours later. However, you have a hard time turning down a small tasty snack or a little slice of pie now wouldn't you. The same goes with these fish when the river is full of bait and the fish are gorged. When the smelt are running, use the freshest stuff first. After the river is vacant of bait, the vac pac stuff works great and the size or gender doesn't really make much difference. I also do not like using any scent at all other than soaking my leaders in vanilla extract when the smelt are in the system. I want my bait smelling like smelt, not shrimp or that sturgeon feast crap. Vanilla extract is just enough to cover up your scent and add a little sugar for their sweet tooth [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]
Thanks for the compliment SMJ [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]
Have to agree on the females for the go to!!
I usually dip with a buddy and after each dip the bucket holder will go through the smelt and retrieve the females and we release the males. usually the pilot runs and the first heavy weeks will be mainly males but as the run progresses the females arive full force with good variety. If you are an eater the males are firmer and can be cooked but really not that good once they get into the fresh water, there chemistry and fleash change drastically compared to getting near the estuary...females make fried mush. never had a problem with gators suckin the roe out..they usually take the smelt by the head anyway. i always take a little river water home too and freeze them with some of the water and the expunged roe out of the bucket from dipping (great scent enhancer)
What sturgeon like better
.....Fish gone
.... still better than working
, try this first and then if you want to laugh go ahead. Rig the smelt with the half hiches then lay it on the floor of the boat or other flat place, now step on it so it is smashed good. Throw it in and see what happens.
Fshklr
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