IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Northern Pike => Topic started by: stinkyfingers on Dec 16, 2017, 02:43 PM
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In Colorado, live fish for bait are prohibited above 7000' which rules them out on the good pike waters. Instead, we can use live waterdogs (mudpuppys) or frozen fish. Frozen suckers are popular. My local bait guy will be charging $5.75 per copy on dogs this year (ouch) but he tells me he has brought in some frozen smelt, maybe 6" typical length. Any of you fellows fish smelt for deadbait? Are they as nasty as suckers?
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They work great
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All the time. In fact when targeting pike I usually have at least one dead swinging. Since rules changed here in WI that also prohibit bait preserved by freezing alone I've salted and or brined mine with very positive results. Other pluses with salt include bait never really freezes even in subzero temps and a tougher bait that stays on the hook better in addition to that salty flavor/smell that fish seem to love.
Go get 'em!
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In Colorado, live fish for bait are prohibited above 7000' which rules them out on the good pike waters. Instead, we can use live waterdogs (mudpuppys) or frozen fish. Frozen suckers are popular. My local bait guy will be charging $5.75 per copy on dogs this year (ouch) but he tells me he has brought in some frozen smelt, maybe 6" typical length. Any of you fellows fish smelt for deadbait? Are they as nasty as suckers?
We actually target and eat them here...even sold in restaurants...tasty!
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I'm glad to hear salted smelt works. I just bought 4 dozen as I was unable to find any head-on frozen smelt anywhere. I like to use dead bait a lot and I have found smelt more effective than suckers on most lakes.
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I'll second what Esox said. Definitely try salting some of the smelt if they aren't already. The salt just seems to attract them, especially in waters where visibility is an issue.
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Esox was gracious enough to share his recipe via a PM for dry brining followed by a wet brine. I'll have the process completed by Christmas day and am planning the first trial of this new (for me) bait the day after.
In Colorado, trout fishing is King, so much so that there is no limit on Northern and DOW encourages any pike caught to be killed. Personally, I've caught enough precious trout to last a lifetime and I value what great fishing Northern really are. I take a few for table fare and put those big ones back down the hole.
Merry Christmas, my friends.
Stinky