Smelt

[Baskett-o-fish]

I have about 80lbs of smelt in the freezer. Does anyone use smelt for Salmon in place of herring? I know these are soft, can you put them in brine as you would herring and get them firm?

[Elwix]

Most people just use them for sturgeon bait. A few people people eat them, but... I don't eat bait. A few people claim to have caught a salmon on a smelt when backbouncing them while sturgeon fishing. Hasn't happened to me, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work.
IMHO you'd be better off using herring, prawns, or kwikfish for salmon and save your smelt for sturgeon.

[Baskett-o-fish]

thanks for the info.