MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
Hi All, I'm looking into smelt fishing a bit, and am trying to figure out when they run. I see all those smelt camps are down because there is no or minimal ice. I remember as a kid fishing somewhere in the Boston area for them, but it was off lighted docks at night in some part of the harbors all around there. There was no ice, and it was cold. I thought is was around the March timeframe but I'm not too sure. From what I gather they move into the rivers from the ocean in springtime to spawn and then back out to the ocean in summer/fall? Part of my question here is that I'm reading posts about the camps not having their shacks out due to lack of ice, and probably won't put them out at all. Is it the season to maybe target these harbors/estuary's etc. or is it in the fall, and late winter early springtime in the rivers?
Thanks for tips. Is that why a river like the Merrimack doesn't support a run, or does it? A breakwater and/or mouth is typically too rough for them? The rods we used many moons ago were these long bamboo rods.
Merrimack has/had smelt, many years ago, we used to fish them in the fall in the basin, from aluminum boats,the docks at Hudsons and Bridge marina also were fishable, the problem with the merrimack is lack of suitable access and a screaming tide.. ive also got them,in the Plum island river..
Ran inside Hampton harbor in late sept and october small ones like bait size