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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: cmbb on Jan 01, 2004, 04:04 PM

Title: Catching smelts in bait traps????
Post by: cmbb on Jan 01, 2004, 04:04 PM

Gentlemen; Is it possible to catch smelts in wire minnow traps? I have caught many shiners etc. but have never caught smelts.

Title: Re:Catching smelts in bait traps????
Post by: fishingking on Jan 01, 2004, 08:23 PM

hmm not sure never heard of it happening  guys up there in Maine ussually jig for them and do well from what i hear we have a guy here in NY i think he calls himself adkguideforhire  or something close too that but i heard he goes up too maine to catch his smelt

Title: Re:Catching smelts in bait traps????
Post by: bigfish57 on Jan 02, 2004, 04:30 PM

Yes it is very possable. Up here in Maine they use large nets or wire traps to catch the smelts. They then have to drop them through a box with a certain sized slot in the bottom (verys from year to year) If the smelt is too small it falls through. If it dosn't intho there bucket and to the bait shop it goes. If you are looking to get some for personaly use your better off jigging them or just shelling out $5 for a dozen.

Title: Re:Catching smelts in bait traps????
Post by: cmbb on Jan 02, 2004, 05:24 PM

Thanks for the replies gentlemen!  I have jigged them myself but have heard they will not enter a conventional bait trap for some unknown reason. Shiners etc. will enter but smelts will not. I thought somebody may know a method of getting them to enter a wire bait trap.