head on smelt ,where to get?

[Martian]

I have used live/dead , with about equal success,I was told by a Mich. fish dealer, I would not find head on smelt in Mi. anywhere, ( maybe he can;'t get them?), , where do you guys get your smelt from?

[jimyoumook]

ive been buying mine from my local bait shop so you might check with them

[Water Wolf]

I am not sure if you have these 2 stores where you are, but here in SK. we can usually get whole smelts in a good sized bag at Superstore or smaller package our local Coop store.

WW

[saxmatt]

I find in my area the Asian supermarkets have the best fish selection. For the guys in NJ Hong Kong Supermarket on rt 18 probably has over 50 species of fish including some great bait like fresh sardines, whiting, mackerel, butterfish and frozen bags of head on smelt.

[Martian]

I was told at a fish market, here inMi., when the smelt are brought in, they are sent to an area on the boat, where they are gutted, and be-headed, so I will not find head on smelt here. Just wondered about ordering them, thanks

[BCice]

 I catch them out of a lake at night with a good smelt population and freeze/package them myself.