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.

[Jake Dogfish]

The smelt in the Nooksack are longfin smelt.
I wonder do they taste as good as Eulachon?

[Trapper John]

Here is what WDFW says for up in that area for smelt

Lower Nooksack smelt fishery opens

November 13, 2025

Action: Opens longfin smelt dipping.

Effective date: Nov. 14–Dec. 31, 2025

Species affected: Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys)

Location: Nooksack River, from Lummi Nation Reservation Boundary upstream to the yellow marker approximately 0.65 miles upstream of Slater Road at 48° 49’ 30.1”N, 122° 35' 08.3”W.

Rules: Longfin smelt open. Daily limit 10 pounds. Smelt may only be taken by dip net. No minimum size; all smelt caught must be kept and count towards the daily limit. Each smelt harvester must use a separate container to hold their catch and the container must be in the harvester’s presence or identified with the harvester’s name. Night Closure in effect: closed to fishing from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.

Reason for action: The Nooksack River was closed Oct. 30 to all fishing from Lummi Nation Reservation boundary upstream to the yellow marker approximately 0.65 mi upstream of Slater Rd at 48°49’30.1”N, 122°35'08.3”W to avoid gear conflicts between recreational anglers and tribal fishers during co-manager chum fisheries. Visit this webpage for a map showing the fishing boundary.

This area in the lower river contains accessible dip netting areas traditionally used during the longfin smelt fishing season that typically peaks in late November. Co-managers have agreed to this recreational smelt opportunity as it poses little risk of interfering with co-manager chum fisheries.

Additional information: When the fishery is open, each dip-netter may retain 10 pounds of smelt per day. 10 pounds of smelt is about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket. Each harvester must be actively participating and is required to use a separate container.

Smelt dippers must avoid trespassing on private lands without permission. Public access to the east bank of the Nooksack River is available from the WDFW-managed Nooksack and Tennant Lake units of Whatcom Wildlife Area.

All species other than longfin smelt remain closed in the lower Nooksack River. For more information, refer to the Nooksack River fishery changes announced Oct. 29.
Longfin smelt are an anadromous smelt species native to large rivers on the West Coast from Alaska to central California, including the Nooksack River. Longfin smelt grow up to six inches in length, have long pectoral fins, and are genetically distinct from eulachon (Columbia River smelt) and surf smelt.

Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.

Information contact: North Puget Sound Region, 425-775-1311, TeamMillCreek@dfw.wa.gov

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations.

Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov