Smelt from Super Market

[TaterSalad]

Has anyone ever tried using smelt from a super market as bait for PIKE or anything else?  I saw some fresh smelt in the seafood section and got wondering.  At 3.99 a pound, the price is right.  Would it work if it had been frozen?

Thanks

[Left Handed Model]

Give it a shot... A Smelt is a smelt....  10-15 underwater they start to thaw and give up an oily slick in the water....

[1TIGGER]

They do work but not as well as whole smelt !
I used them for a couple of seasons with success but the guy's I was fishing with used whole and had much better luck so I made the switch and my catch ratio has gone way up .
Frozen wont matter but dressed or whole will .

[BlueDuck]

The stores in my area sell them whole.....  Thats what we use for pike here...

[archbishop]

They do work but not as well as whole smelt !
I used them for a couple of seasons with success but the guy's I was fishing with used whole and had much better luck so I made the switch and my catch ratio has gone way up .
Frozen wont matter but dressed or whole will .

yup, last year i used the store bought smelt from tops, they worked pretty good
at least until my buddy had some he caught out of the small boat harbor and was outfishing me 2-1

[Flagtailhunter]

For the most part, the large grocery stores are the best place to get smelt here in Manitoba.  They tend to have the freshest and largests ones.  I will also pick up whole mackeral or sardines from the grocery store.