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.