The smelt are coming!!!!

[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