smelt dipping

[Mark0202]

Just saw this come through

STATE OF WASHINGTON
ACTION NOTICE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife February 5, 2014
THE FOLLOWING SEASON WAS SET:
2014 Washington Tributary (reduced Level One) Sport Smelt Fishery Season: Open Saturdays from February 8 through March 1 (4 days) Open hours are 6:00 AM until Noon (12:00 PM) (6-hour periods) Area: Cowlitz River only Gear: Dip Net (bank only) Daily Limit: 10 pounds per person. Possession limit is equal to one daily limit.

anybody gonna fight the cold and try it out?

[washelkhunter]

I'd like to get some. Think i'll see if I can pickup a dip net at the show tomorrow.

[Dhoey07]

Good to hear that the run has recovered enough to have a season

[WSU]

What do people do with them?  Anyone have a recipe?

[Encore 280]

They're good smoked or clean 'em, shake 'em in flour and fry 'em up in Crisco or something like that. Good for sturgeon bait too but no more sturgeon fishing.

[wafisherman]

When I was a kid we'd be able to fill 5 gallon buckets in a few dips sometimes.  My dad and grandpa like them smoked whole, not cleaned, or battered and fried, whole fish, not cleaned...  I preferred them with head removed, and gutted - smoked or fried.

[Encore 280]

We cleaned them before frying but my Uncle always smoked them whole. I tried them smoked, not bad and the head was a little crunchy.

[allen]

Pickle them

clean fish
Brine overnight 4 cups salt per 1/2 gal water, next day rinse thoroughly.
boil mixture 2 cups sugar, 4 cups white vinegar, 1 cup pickling spice, let it cool then add 1 large sliced onion.
cut fish into chunks, pour cooled mixture over & let stand in frig for 5 days

[Jingles]

As a kid in Michigan I remember going out and filling Garbage cans full of smelt with dip nets. we hit the river just about dark and one or two people would be in the river dipping then when the run started everyone was in the river dipping runs would last 3 or 4 hours then drop off like someone pulled a plug. Spend the entire next day deheading, cleaning and packing for the freezer.
Rolled in seasoned flour, deep fried and if you weren't there when the frying started chances are you didn't get any

[Bigshooter]

Just saw this come through

STATE OF WASHINGTON
ACTION NOTICE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife February 5, 2014
THE FOLLOWING SEASON WAS SET:
2014 Washington Tributary (reduced Level One) Sport Smelt Fishery Season: Open Saturdays from February 8 through March 1 (4 days) Open hours are 6:00 AM until Noon (12:00 PM) (6-hour periods) Area: Cowlitz River only Gear: Dip Net (bank only) Daily Limit: 10 pounds per person. Possession limit is equal to one daily limit.

anybody gonna fight the cold and try it out?

If it's not too cold I plan on going.

[Mark0202]

Hopefully the cold won't make much of a difference. I haven't gone in nearly 15 years.  Would love to be able to get some to smoke or fry up.

[bowhunterwa87]

Fry um whole then pull heads n guts out! Yummy

[TheHunt]

I would love to go just to experience it.  I have never done it.

[fishcrazy]

no birds around yet and the Toutle had flowing ice today so I'm thinking the water is still to cold. I wouldn't waste my time.

Kris

[fowl smacker]

There were already smelt in the cowlitz  a week and a half ago, not a lot, but some.