Smelt camps yet ?

[Nessmuck]

Pretty soon maybe ? Don’t know how much damage that last storm did.

Think camps will be up and running soon.

Appreciate any info ...and thanks

[Bosshog]

I saw 4 on at Worthing's this afternoon.

[Bottle_O_Moxie]

I heard Riverbend has closed for good and are selling off the shacks.  Can anyone confirm that?

[9huskies]

The owners of Riverbend retired and closed a couple years ago. I don't know what they did or are doing with their shacks.

[Nessmuck]

That smelt camp in Dresden still open ...James Eddy ?

[9huskies]

There's an article in today's Bangor Daily news about the smelt camps.   
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/01/29/outdoors/fishing/lack-of-ice-is-killing-maines-iconic-smelt-camps-joam40zk0w/

[Bottle_O_Moxie]

Huskies, thanks for sharing that link.   It was not surprising to read about what is happening this year.  Riverbend is selling off their shacks. Hope we get a cold spell to firm things up and get some of the other place's  shacks out.

[woodchip]

Its been so Dangerous walking out on lakes now with this wet heavy snow putting weight on ice it will take a lot of cold weather to get down tru this on lakes,  rivers with more moving water will be even more Dangerous!!!!!!

[Scalloper]

For some of you die hard smelters there is another option. There is an area near St John New Brunswick, Renforth where they have been doing quite well on smelts. This is part of the St John River. Its actually a lot closer for me to go there vs southern Maine. Its about 1 hr from Calais. When you get there its only 75-100 yd walk to fish. You can use your own hub or rent some shacks. The limit is 60 smelt per day. Next month the hake season is open and that's another species that they catch there. There is a post on FB "Renforth Ice Fishing" with more details.

[tonyjackson]

Anyone ever target them on the Fore River in Portland? I know it almost never freezes but it's obviously tidal and there are plenty of piers to try.

[9huskies]

From january 1 to March 14 they may only be taken through the ice. Here are the most recent rules. https://www.maine.gov/dmr/sites/maine.gov.dmr/files/docs/2022-searun-smelt-regs.pdf

[Sluggo65]

Scalloper - have you ever done that trip "over home"? I checked out some videos after I saw your post and they have a great hake fishery there too. Don't know about licensing or bring fish back across the international boundary but I do love me some corned hake w/ potatoes, goose tongue greens and fried pork scraps!

[Steve H.]

I remember eating hake for two weeks straight when I visited PEI.  Great when it's fresh off the boat.

[rdhammah]

I heard directly from James Eddy's and Bakers. Neither will be opening this season.

[Steve H.]

For some of you die hard smelters there is another option. There is an area near St John New Brunswick, Renforth where they have been doing quite well on smelts. This is part of the St John River. Its actually a lot closer for me to go there vs southern Maine. Its about 1 hr from Calais. When you get there its only 75-100 yd walk to fish. You can use your own hub or rent some shacks. The limit is 60 smelt per day. Next month the hake season is open and that's another species that they catch there. There is a post on FB "Renforth Ice Fishing" with more details.

Crazy how much shack remains and debris gets left out on the ice.  Shocking really.   (@ 0:44) 

[nbourque]

I heard directly from James Eddy's and Bakers. Neither will be opening this season.

Another bad year for those guys.

[Bosshog]

Worthing's has at least 2 dozen shacks on today.

[Nessmuck]

What a suck couple of years.....

Thanks for all replies !

[Nessmuck]

There's an article in today's Bangor Daily news about the smelt camps.   
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/01/29/outdoors/fishing/lack-of-ice-is-killing-maines-iconic-smelt-camps-joam40zk0w/

Great read...thanks for posting that.