Smelt ?

[Trapper John]

I see that WDFW open smelt dip netting up on the Nooksack River (Bellingham ~ Ferndale) starting last week until the end of the year.
Has anyone ever tried this area ?
I took a drive up there last week but it looks like there is no place to dip off of land unless you walk in a looooog distance or dip from a boat.

Has anyone gone up there over the years and have you caught any ?
Where is a good place to get some off of land without walking in ?
JC   

[Trapper John]

Seriously, nobody fish or should i say dip net up there or smelt ?
 

[Crunchy]

I could use about 10 for halibut bait this coming year.  If it were closer I would think about it

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Trapper John, I believe they are now running on the Nooksack River right through the main intersection in Ferndale, WA. You should be able to dip from right out of the bed of your truck and if you have enough Kids along... fill it to the Brim. 

[bak2huntn]

Live on the Nooksack the last twenty years and have never heard of a smelt run on it,used to ice fish for them in South Dakota bot one at a time sucks.They taste great and if true I'm down to dip a net. Great bait also.Some one who has done this please chime in.Maybe when i get out from under the house replacing flood damage i can check it out and respond! Its not April is it ?

[Tbar]

I fished them a lot when I was young.  We used to dipnet for them just upstream of the marine drive bridge.  That is assuming you are talking hooligans.  Smelt, eulachon and hooligans are all the same fish.  It's great to hear the run has returned to harvestable numbers but I'm little help to the current fishery. Best of luck if you do try, I literally just sent my nets to the aluminum recycling yard.