Using smelt heads

[buckipicker]

I have caught hundreds of smelt this year before ice season.  Instead of wasting the heads, I plan on using the heads to tip jigs and spoons during ice season.  Seems like they have a heck of a scent and hopefully will work. Will be using them in a lake they are not native to.  Has anyone used them this way?  Thanks in advance.

[outside]

I've used smelt heads with some success.
Hopefully the ones you have aren't too big, as I found the smaller ones work better.

[Yukoner]

They are dynamite for burbot!  Of course, any oily cut bait is.

Ted

[Dull Hooks]

I've used them to catch perch and shiner heads for perch and crappie.Some days for whatever reason that's all they'll touch.

[buckipicker]

Thanks for the replies.  I have ensured the heads were cut off well in front of the gills to ensure they are as small as I could make them.  Will be using them for walleye and crappie.

[Water Wolf]

They are also good to use when tipping lures or jigs for pike, they like oily baitfish as well.

WW

[firefighter04]

Me and my boy killed the notherns between 12" and 29" on mepps spinners tipped with smelt heads. Tried whole smelt on a tip up or two ten feet away and not a single flag. Also tried spinner no smelt and no love. Flash + vibration+ nice smelly cut bait sealed the deal. Small fish but large for where we were small river and 5 feet of water.