Help an old dog out

[Oldfart]

O.K. I dont know everything. Yesterday a kid was telling me how great the smelt were that he caught and fried. Its bait to me. May or may not be bait for you. But I sat around all afternooon after talking to this kid and forgot to ask....how do you catch a smelt through the ice??? Made me feel dumb. Thanks, kid.

[Pasquatch]

Here's a few links..I've heatd of some people eating them, most use them for bait...
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=18425.msg155533#msg155533
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/Pasquatch/PigEye.jpg

[HeavyChevy]

Here in michigan we use hali jigs and catch them threw the ice. And in the spring we have large meatal nets that we throw in the water and pull them up. Fry them up little butter little lemon im in heaven.

[ice fishNH]

Smelt are great eating.  Just cut the heads off, open them and clean 'em out - then bread them up and throw 'em in the deep fryer and eat like french fries.  Bones aren't an issue are they are so small.  My 2 year old son even loved eating them.  I was out a couple of nights ago and was able to see about a dozen swimming past the hole (just under the surface of the ice).  Not able to hook any of them, so will give it a try again tonight.  Most would just nudge the bait and keep on swimming, so I guess I will have to get creative and try a few different setups to try and hook 'em.

[Gator-Bait]

Don't tell to many people but you catch them like your daddy you when your where young. You put a little salt on there tail and there history!!! When you a little older you use a hali jig tipped with pin minnow and lighted hole.