Support Iceshanty... Get some great gear and forum goodies... Join The Iceshanty Hardwater Militia
I have never tried Higgins but might give it a go this year as it is a lot closer after the move. Smelt on Green last year was not good from all the reports I got a few days of good fishing but few and far between. Did ok on Crystal compared to most I checked with but there too was a fairy slow off year and then there was also the crash at Gull. Never fished there just kept heading north with all the bad reports, hope they rebound but sounds like it will take a few years.
I have had cisco from Traverse Bay and was not really impressed frying it. I have heard Smoking and Canning it are good ways to process it.
I live in the Higgins lake area/ I can see the lake from the end of my driveway. I don't get out as often as I like but plan on gettout more this winter. We were picking up a few smelt last winter on the west shore along with a few cisco's.
Yep tried frying it but it is in the Whitefish family and the texture is on the mushy side for me. I think the smoker is the way to go.
I was out there during the day once last year. Talked with a couple guys heading out for the night bite when we had to leave and I’m going to give it a go this year.
I never fish them at night. I wait until the end of Feb and then sight fish them during the day
Me and my daughter had a steady stream of them all day but struggled to set the hook in them. We were using tungsten jigs and spikes. I’m going to try smaller jigs and a hali as the dropper weight.
Cisco are actually quite good if cooked the same day as caught. If you have to freeze them, plan on smoking them before serving. One tip: bleed them as soon as they come out of the water and store on wet ice until cleaned.