Where are you guys finding head on Smelt? Mi. does not have them, (according to one scource), a guy at a fish market told me when they bring in their nets, they go through a process of be-heading, and gutting , and then into holding tanks. I tend to find live/ dead works equally as well as the other, so , in the convenience factor alone, i vote dead. Plus, some of our local bait stores charge up to $1 per bait, and they count them to make sure you don't end up with 13. Gander is pretty good about getting at least a bakers doz. We have been buying what GM call bass size minnows , cheaper, usually get 15-18 for $6.99, plu ,do not trip your trap so to speak.
