[fishwolfe]

so whats the deal on smelt?is there a run every year?what rivers get the most?what time of the year is the run?best way to keep smelt for long periods of time?i went smelt dipping for the first time a few years ago on the sandy and had a blast.havent heard of a run since.is that a fluke or like everything else,its a washington river thing?i just used my last bag this past weekend.

 

[LuckySteelhead]

There was a nice pilot run that ran in the cowlitz in mid december about 3-4 years back, then a huge run around February 10th in 2002. I scored lots of smelt every night for one week.

 

[AnchorManagement]

It's been a bad year for smelt, there was a tiny little itty bitty run in the cowlitz this year, but everyone expected a real run that never happened, apparently it was caused by something, or some condition, water temerature ect. out in the ocean because no one & no rivers really got a run this year, so when ya get em, get em sealed with one of those vacume sealers & make em last.

 

[fishwolfe]

so they are supposed to run every year?what are the typical months?

 

[AnchorManagement]

they used to run every year, some years better then otheres, this was a weird year though, I'm no expert, I'm just a big smelt user for sturgeon fishing, maybe timeoff or kalamantor can help with more info, they live up there in the heart of smelt country

 

[Tide Change]

Here is the extent of last year's smelt run on the cowlitz:

Thanks to Kalamanator for showing us what it looked like. :grin:

Keep us posted buddy! :dance:

 

[Beefcake]

Some people will disagree with this, but for storage I have had good luck using quart-size ziplock baggies. The key is to leave a little bit of river water in the bag with the smelt, which freezes around the smelt and protects it from freezer burn.

 

[AnchorManagement]

that is funny! That is 1 smelt more then I got last year, man I miss em, i hope they come back in Feb/March

 

[Tide Change]

AnchorManagement: IF (fingers crossed), there is a run on the Cow this year, I will be making nightly trips up there after work. I will gladly pick up anyone along the I-5 corridor to share the ride. I will make an "open seat" post if the run materializes.

fishwolfe: I put them into zip-lock baggies (about a dozen in each bag) right at the river, and put them on ice immediately. Then at home, put the bags into the freezer just long enough to stiffen them up and let the river water ice up. Then, remove them from the baggies and vacuum pack. IMHO this makes the best sturgeon bait around, and will last a long time. This stuff gets bit when nothing else seems to be working. (Keyword when sturgeon fishing: FRESH BAIT)

 

[fishwolfe]

thanks for all the great info!do you need a washington fishing licsense to smelt dip?i would be interested in following or riding along to the cow.guess i'll have to get a vacume sealer.maybe i can use it for a christmas gift for the wife,yeah thats the ticket!

 

[Tide Change]

Nope. No license required.

Vacuum packer is one of the best kitchen investments I've made.

 

[fishwolfe]

cool,im all over it when the time comes.i havent had much luck with any other bait.im still an accidental fisherman out side of sturgeon fishing.hopefully i can get a salmon next year with all the great info and help on ifish.