CRYSTAL LAKE _ BEULAH

[Joe in T.C.]

Third time smelting on Crystal.  Fished from 1730-2100.  Saw zero smelt.  Talked to three other shanties, no one seeing anything. 

Talked to a local in town...come to find out...the indians netted smelt all summer on Crystal...hence-no smelt!  Once again, the joke is on us soortsman, and it ain’t funny again. 

(Just like the joke about a shortened season or 1 fish per day for lakers on East and West Bays.

For all that follow this thread, I have received a rebuttal to my post on February 26th about reported smelt netting on Crystal.  The rebuttal indicates his graph was full of smelt last weekend...so I am very relieved to hear that.  Just thought I would pass that along. 

I have another rebuttal on the smelt netting to pass along:

I contacted Jay Wesley of the DNR
He said there is no truth to the statements of netting in Crystal Lake.
He said the tribes have a good working relationship with the State and share information on where netting occurs.

Here is his information if you have any questions:

Jay Wesley
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Division
621 N. 10th Street
Plainwell, MI 49080

Phone: 1-269-204-7057

Email:  [email protected]



I think If anyone were netting fish in Crystal it would have been known to many and made the news on several TV channels as well as multiple papers and magazines.

Looks like just another hate rumor being spread to stir things up. 

Good Luck All 

[jdgambler]

Thanks joe

[netminder34]

Well I am not sure what is going on in the lake but I drove around 3/4 of the lake yesterday afternoon and did not see a fisherman.  Word is getting out on the lack of production I would say with another poor weekend of smelt fishing from all the reports I have heard.  Saw a couple trucks on the ice over deep water earlier in the week and there was no loss of ice over the weekend.

[jdgambler]

How is the ice on crystal? I imagine it’s just fine. has anybody been out there?