The smelt are coming!!!!

[doyourtime89]

I hope it is like it was last year.  Although I did miss out on it.  But from reports I read on here and other site it was kind of like it was when I was a kid.  Not many dips to get limits.  I hope to go both days and fill up on what I can. 

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jan2815c/

[bigtex]

It was a blast. It was great seeing the younger peole who had their first opportunity to do it in their lifetime.

[kentrek]

They were in thick yesterday. ...kept snagging them every time I reeled in to check my bate.....lil turds kept my bell busy all morning

[Skillet]

Never done this before, always wanted to.  Who's got the tips and tricks for us newbies??  Equipment suggestions?

They are such tasty little buggars.

[762Armo]

How do you clean so many little fish at one time?

[HntnFsh]

Scissors are your friend when cleaning smelt!

[carpsniperg2]

Never done this before, always wanted to.  Who's got the tips and tricks for us newbies??  Equipment suggestions?

They are such tasty little buggars.

I would also be interested in seeing some net and setups.

[HntnFsh]

When the smelt are in, go to the Cowlitz about anywhere between Longview and Castle Rock. There will be tons of vehicles. Probably somebody that would let you borrow their net too. But if not Bobs may have them for sale. I would guess around $30. Aluminum telescoping handle. I think they are about 12' long. But last year I just used 1 section as the smelt were following the bank. Just a solid black stream of them. Start upstream and sweep your net downstream right through the travel lane. At the end of your sweep twist your net handle a 1/4 turn so that the opening is up. Pull it back to the bank. Grab the net of smelt from the bottom. Twist your handle so the opening is facing your bucket. Dump the hand full of smelt in the bucket. Do it all over again until you have your limit. Last year it was 1 dip and you usually had too many smelt. If they aren't in thick you may have to figure out where that lane is. Either by watching others or trial and error. Different depths and distances from the bank. You will usually feel them hitting the end of your net. On your downstream sweep make mental note of where your hitting sticks and rocks so you can try to avoid getting hung up. If your too forceful then you may tear your net. About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.
Good Luck all.
HntnFsh

[bearpaw]

Excellent info Huntnfish. 

How many days will the run likely last?

[bigtex]

About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.

It is also illegal to sort/throw back any smelt that is caught prior to obtaining your limit. You'll sometimes see people throwing back females or smaller smelt. Just like razor clams, you must keep all of your smelt regardless of size/sex.

[HntnFsh]

You never know with smelt. Could be 1 day. Could be 2-3 weeks solid. Or sporadically for a month. As of right now its open Feb. 7th and 14th from 6 a.m. till noon. Ive seen smelt show up really strong for a day or 2. Disappear for weeks, the come in strong for awhile again. Last year the smelt never showed for the first few openers. But came on extremely strong for the last couple of weeks so there were a couple great dipping days!. Seems like the season was extended to take advantage of that.  Usually the first run will be a pilot run of mostly males. Those are the best eating. A lot of people wont even clean them. Just rinse them off fry them up. Pop the head off. Separate the meat from the backbone real quick and gulp them down. Most people that smoke them don't clean them either. In fact Ive seen several people eat the whole thing. Head, tail, guts, and all. Not much guts in the early males.

When the females are in thick they aren't as good of table fair. Good sturgeon bait though. The females will be shinier and pretty slick with a fat belly. The males will have a rougher feel and duller color to them.

[Skillet]

Excellent info Hntnfsh, thank you! 

[runamuk]

How do you clean so many little fish at one time?

When we used to eat them just bread fry pop off head and eat similar to eating sardines or herring you just cook and eat it I remember them being delicious, I remember herring being good as well.

[magnanimous_j]

The one time I did it was at the coast. We had a steel hoop about the size of a large pizza with a long net on the back of it. We wadded into the surf about waist deep. When a wave came in, we'd plant ourselves, hold the net to the side and let the wave hit us square in the chest. the wave rushes through the hoop and when it rolls back, we'd have a few new smelt in there.

It was really fun.

[runamuk]

We used to just stand on the beach and rake em in with a rake. an army of kids to grab them while they flop around and fill buckets and we were set for some fun times.  Never saw any nets everyone used rakes.

[WSU]

I've never done it but may give it a go this year.

[TONTO]

About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.

It is also illegal to sort/throw back any smelt that is caught prior to obtaining your limit. You'll sometimes see people throwing back females or smaller smelt. Just like razor clams, you must keep all of your smelt regardless of size/sex.

 First I have ever heard of that. What if the fish are sorted in the net and never leave the water? If the native fish society peeps can molest native steel with a fly, why can't I release smelt? Last year on the last dipping day I did just that, I already had enough bait and fried my fill, so on the last day I sorted them in the net and only the large males went in the bucket. Made for a couple nice smoker loads.

[Pete112288]

I remember doing this as a kid once with my uncle on the Lewis. I think it was the last year it was open on the lewis. Right there in Woodland. That year across by the boat launch by the bridge in woodland commercial guys had totes and totes and totes full. It just blew my mind haha.

[cohoho]

Smelt = Sturgeon for me!

[pd]

Smelt are delicious.  Tagged.

[washelkhunter]

Dip nets will be for sale at the PNW Sportsmans show next week.

[TheHunt]

How much for a net?

[fishnfur]

Looking like it's going to be a great year.  I've lived in Longview for 9 years and never seen so many seals and sea lions in the Lower Columbia.  I've seen literally hundreds of these animals in the past week, singles and groups up to 20 or so working the schools of smelt in the big river near the county line of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties.  Lines of cars pull off to watch the action.  Pretty cool to watch, but not so good for the salmon soon to follow. 

Time to loose those laws protecting those animals, which are no longer hunted and clearly not endangered.  I'm just sayin'......

[bigtex]

About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.

It is also illegal to sort/throw back any smelt that is caught prior to obtaining your limit. You'll sometimes see people throwing back females or smaller smelt. Just like razor clams, you must keep all of your smelt regardless of size/sex.

First I have ever heard of that. What if the fish are sorted in the net and never leave the water? If the native fish society peeps can molest native steel with a fly, why can't I release smelt? Last year on the last dipping day I did just that, I already had enough bait and fried my fill, so on the last day I sorted them in the net and only the large males went in the bucket. Made for a couple nice smoker loads.

No sorting at all.

[columbiaman]

When the smelt are in, go to the Cowlitz about anywhere between Longview and Castle Rock. There will be tons of vehicles. Probably somebody that would let you borrow their net too. But if not Bobs may have them for sale. I would guess around $30. Aluminum telescoping handle. I think they are about 12' long. But last year I just used 1 section as the smelt were following the bank. Just a solid black stream of them. Start upstream and sweep your net downstream right through the travel lane. At the end of your sweep twist your net handle a 1/4 turn so that the opening is up. Pull it back to the bank. Grab the net of smelt from the bottom. Twist your handle so the opening is facing your bucket. Dump the hand full of smelt in the bucket. Do it all over again until you have your limit. Last year it was 1 dip and you usually had too many smelt. If they aren't in thick you may have to figure out where that lane is. Either by watching others or trial and error. Different depths and distances from the bank. You will usually feel them hitting the end of your net. On your downstream sweep make mental note of where your hitting sticks and rocks so you can try to avoid getting hung up. If your too forceful then you may tear your net. About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.
Good Luck all.
HntnFsh

great advice

[Jamieb]

I hope we do as well as last year. Smoked smelt sounds good.

[pd]

If I can I would like to go out this coming Saturday (I know, St. Valentine's Day...).

Did anybody here get out on the Cowlitz this weekend?  How was it?  A lot of traffic?  Please post a report.

[WSU]

I went.  Lots of traffic and lots of smelt.  We got our limits (2) with a borrowed net in about 3 minutes. 

I fried some up last night.  They tasted fine but I could get the meat firm to save my life.  Am I doing it wrong or is fried smelt just not firm?

[Encore 280]

Ours wouldn't firm up either. My wife was pretty disappointed in them cuz they weren't like the ones ya get off the beaches but I still like em! Smoked a batch up yesterday so today I'll be crack'n a beer with smoked smelt.

[duckmen1]

Ours fried were not firm either. But tasted fine. Are smoked smelt a lot firmer.?I would assume so.

[TheHunt]

It was great...  We got 60 lbs in two hours and we had a crappy net.

[Encore 280]

Ours fried were not firm either. But tasted fine. Are smoked smelt a lot firmer.?I would assume so.

I'm gonna have one or some smoked ones here in a bit with a beer or two. I'll let ya know how they are.

[Encore 280]

Oh man! Just had a smoked one, good grits Maynard!! Gave a bite to The Warden and she loves 'em!!! Success!!!

[pd]

Oh man! Just had a smoked one, good grits Maynard!! Gave a bite to The Warden and she loves 'em!!! Success!!!

Hey Encore.  Maybe you could lend me your net.  Just don't tell the Warden about me, or both of us might have to do some extra chores.

[Bullkllr]

I went.  Lots of traffic and lots of smelt.  We got our limits (2) with a borrowed net in about 3 minutes. 

I fried some up last night.  They tasted fine but I could get the meat firm to save my life.  Am I doing it wrong or is fried smelt just not firm?

Fried Columbia river smelt has never been what I would call a firm-meated fish.

I can handle about 1 batch a year. Best part is the fins and butter crunchies from the coating; the fish itself  is pretty ...meh.

When I was a kid it was smelt for dinner for, well...way too long some years.

[jay.sharkbait]

I went.  Lots of traffic and lots of smelt.  We got our limits (2) with a borrowed net in about 3 minutes. 

I fried some up last night.  They tasted fine but I could get the meat firm to save my life.  Am I doing it wrong or is fried smelt just not firm?

Fried Columbia river smelt has never been what I would call a firm-meated fish.

I can handle about 1 batch a year. Best part is the fins and butter crunchies from the coating; the fish itself  is pretty ...meh.

When I was a kid it was smelt for dinner for, well...way too long some years.

I grew up on Johnson Pt/ Henderson Inlet. The sea run stuff is way better

[JimmyHoffa]

So much oil in them I'd imagine it would be hard to get them firm.  Lewis and Clark would burn them like a candle.

[Panic Minnow]

Well I tried to also fry them and since they were kinda mushy I decided to can them. They turned out pretty good.....added liquid smoke, vinegar, water, and olive oil. Great on crackers.....
I was really disappointed at everyone that took way over their limits. I actually did not know what I was going to do with the 15# we got. My garden will be doing real good this year with the small ones and the smelt guts.....

[ICEMAN]

When the smelt are in, go to the Cowlitz about anywhere between Longview and Castle Rock. There will be tons of vehicles. Probably somebody that would let you borrow their net too. But if not Bobs may have them for sale. I would guess around $30. Aluminum telescoping handle. I think they are about 12' long. But last year I just used 1 section as the smelt were following the bank. Just a solid black stream of them. Start upstream and sweep your net downstream right through the travel lane. At the end of your sweep twist your net handle a 1/4 turn so that the opening is up. Pull it back to the bank. Grab the net of smelt from the bottom. Twist your handle so the opening is facing your bucket. Dump the hand full of smelt in the bucket. Do it all over again until you have your limit. Last year it was 1 dip and you usually had too many smelt. If they aren't in thick you may have to figure out where that lane is. Either by watching others or trial and error. Different depths and distances from the bank. You will usually feel them hitting the end of your net. On your downstream sweep make mental note of where your hitting sticks and rocks so you can try to avoid getting hung up. If your too forceful then you may tear your net. About a 1/4 of a 5 gallon bucket is close to a 10 lb. Limit. All limits have to be in separate containers.
Good Luck all.
HntnFsh

great advice

No kidding. Best tutorial on smelt fishing of all time. Great job Huntnfsh!

[Jamieb]

Anyone down in the Longview area seeing birds and such? Smelt still in the river? A couple of friends asked my to take them this Saturday.
I'm not going to even going to dip, 10# for last weekend is enough for me.

[pd]

Update on the smelt run.  We went down to Castle Rock today (first time ever).  I borrowed a net from HuntWa stand up member Encore 280 

Encore told me that last week's run was so strong, they limited in 5 minutes.  Today wasn't anything like that.  There were indeed a horde of people everywhere you looked, but most people struggled.  One thing I didn't know is the need for waders---the guys who really did well were out in the middle of the river, up to their navels in water.  Even then, it took an hour or so for them to limit.

We were limited to the bank, with knee-high gum boots, and didn't limit (we broke off early because of conflicting schedules).  It was a beautiful day today on the river, and everybody had a great time.  Next year I will bring waders.

[Trapper John]

It's been 20+ years since I went dipping for smelt.  I didn't get a chance to go last week and heard it only took two or three dips to get your limit.

So I pulled out the net grabbed my wife and daughter and we headed down to Castle Rock.  Wow, were three and the lot of people everywhere.  Banks were full with people side by side.  We went down river were the crowd wasn't so bad.  We let home and drove for two and a half hours.  Got there around 9:45 and worked on getting those little bugger's until noon.

We picked up 18 pounds for the three of us.  Just like everybody we seen all you were getting at one dip was one maybe two or three fish at a time.  Worked for every one and will really enjoy each one for sure.  Had a great day with my older daughter  that still likes to fish with dad and mom.

We'll be out next time if they open it up again. 
JC. 

[Jason]

Took my boys smelt dipping yesterday, I've never been before so this was a crazy new experience. All I can say is that it was a sight to see!! The plan was to go to Gerhart Park at 7am and we got there and just kept on driving I decided we would follow the river a ways tell we found a spot that wasn't crowded  well an hour later we made it just south of four corners at Camelot Spur Rd. It wasn't to crowded, we found a spot that had a rock bar splitting the river.
I borrowed a net from my buddy who inherited from his great grandfather, we could reach out about 16' with it. We had our 3 limits in 45min and never had to get wet. I rioeally didn't know what to expect, but I surely didn't expect it to be combat smelt dipping, I still am shocked at what a saw yesterday and definitely look forward to doing it again.

[WAcoueshunter]

Yeah, I went for my first time Saturday as well.  Smelt were a staple for my family many years ago, but all I remember was that I loved smoked smelt as a little kid.  So, thought we'd give it a roll some 30+ years later.

Went to Castle Rock and HOLY COW, there were a bunch of people.  Can't imagine Castle Rock has been that crowded...ever?  Smelt season used to be a lot longer, so that might be the truth. 

We wound up further south close to Lexington.  Took a while to get the right technique/lane down, but after watching the russians kick our tails we finally figured it out.  Wound up with seven limits for two nets in about two hours - most of that was in the last thirty minutes once we figured it out.  After cleaning them, decided next time we don't need that many stinking smelt! 

Found a couple Mediterranean sardine recipes and cooked some up last night.  Fantastic.  Super mild flavor, and the whole skeleton just pulls right out when you grab the tail and pull.  Nice change of pace from the normal salmon, trout, rockfish/cod diet.  Yes, not super firm, but when you doctor them up with garlic, olives, etc., they were awfully good. 

[pjb3]

Any in the sound yet? Mainly around Deception Pass' Coronet bay?
Thinking of going this weekend out of La Conner where they are having a smelt derby