Smelt Bait

[stevekopec]

Anybody know where I can get whole (frozen or otherwise) smelt for use as bait?  Used to use these up in Wisconsin and they were great for catching pike through the ice.  The local grocery stores have them cleaned (no heads or guts), but I'm hoping to find them whole.  Chester county area.

[JustTheTip?]

You can order them online here: http://dgbait.com/

I've purchased the whole smelt and herring before and have had good results - they come sealed in jars with twist off lids which are great for storing and transporting, and they're marinated in a pickle type sauce that seems to really give off a nice scent trail.  G'luck!

[hardwaterwalker814]

i tried smelt quite a few times this year including today maybe 3 flags whole season everyone dropped it shiners did ok but 2 out of 3 times the fish would take the creek chubs over the shiners only problem is theyre getting scarce now not getti.g very many in my traps anymore

[Ironeagle]

You can go to raystown in spring n net them In creeks by the hundreds and freeze them yourself. Only can do it during the spawn at night in the spring

[sloughdog]

The bait shop nearest Canoe Creek sells them 5-6" packs and 7-8" packs. Canoe Mountain Outfitters is TE bait shop.

It's my understanding the smelt spawn at Raystown has really dropped off.

[Ironeagle]

They cycle. Kinda like the grouse populations.

[stevekopec]

I found them at the Asian Grocery market!  Nice and cheap too.  $4.59 for 2 pounds.  That should last me a while.  Sure beats the $50 S&H costs from DG Baits.

[sloughdog]

Are the smelt you got whole with guts and heads on?  That's a great price.  Where is the market located?

[stevekopec]

Are the smelt you got whole with guts and heads on?  That's a great price.  Where is the market located?

Yes, whole with guts and head.  Not huge, but there are at least $5 worth of big ones in there.  Found them at Gong's Market at Rte, 30 and 401, in Malvern.  It's all the way in the back corner of the strip mall.  There's a tiny sign.   If you don't know it's there, you'll never find it.