Author Topic: smelt as bait (Read 3432 times)

buckzone101 · « **on:** Jan 22, 2012, 02:59 PM »

any advice on where i could get some smelt, do you use dead or live smelt? anyone had any luck with using "perch bait" or do the perch just eat it all?

adkRoy · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 04:04 PM »

Quote from: buckzone101 on Jan 22, 2012, 02:59 PM

any advice on where i could get some smelt, do you use dead or live smelt? anyone had any luck with using "perch bait" or do the perch just eat it all?

To use smelt as bait, you have to jig them up from the lake you're fishing in. Or, get pre-packaged salted smelt.

buckzone101 · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 05:00 PM »

ok well any advise as in where i could get smelt frozen in ny? dose walmart or grandunion carry then in the freezer isle?

slymer83 · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 05:10 PM »

Frozen smelt works great ... fish section of your favorite grocery store should be

buckzone101 · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 05:12 PM »

i will have to look around and then if they arent an arm and a leg ill pick some up, how exactly would that play with the bait laws?

buckzone101 · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 06:13 PM »

how big and how many are in the packs that you guys buy?

adkRoy · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 06:16 PM »

To use smelt that you did not catch from the lake you are fishing, it has to be from a company that pre-packages it, like you find in the sporting goods aisles. Otherwise DEC will give you a ticket. Make sure you have the package with you at all times.

BIGJim223 · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 06:43 PM »

Price Chopper has frozen smelt, $5.99 for a pound bag, maybe 25 in it. Never counted. But they are not legal for bait! Good enough for YOU to eat, but not good enough to fish with! NY State needs to re-evaluate their bait policies. I am all for keeping invasive diseases and species out of our waters but some of their laws are just plain stupid. Don't these people think about some of the laws they pass? Soon they will outlaw Common sense!

BIGJim223

Raquettedacker · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 06:52 PM »

Quote from: slymer83 on Jan 22, 2012, 05:10 PM

Frozen smelt works great ... fish section of your favorite grocery store should be

This is not legal... Please don't do this...

buckzone101 · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 07:43 PM »

you guys got my hopes up now i have to try and get to glensfalls to look threw dicks and walmart to see if they have any froaen smelt, i was just ganna go to the GU

Lunch_Box · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 08:03 PM »

What if you use then frozen herring either whole or strips like they use for trolling for kings on Ontario?? They are certified disease free. Just a suggestion. I know it's not smelt but fish is fish.

adkRoy · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 22, 2012, 10:49 PM »

Check the bait regulations! Its a lot cheaper than going to court and having to pay a fine.

slymer83 · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 31, 2012, 04:14 PM »

Quote from: adkRoy on Jan 22, 2012, 10:49 PM

Check the bait regulations! Its a lot cheaper than going to court and having to pay a fine.

adkRoy thanks for the info i checked the regs and you are right! Thanks again ... I try to do the right thing and this forum helps alot i may try salting them too, is that how you interpret that law

Can you jig Smelt in raquette that is where we r headed on Saturday

SchrnLker · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 31, 2012, 04:44 PM »

Quote from: buckzone101 on Jan 22, 2012, 02:59 PM

any advice on where i could get some smelt, do you use dead or live smelt? anyone had any luck with using "perch bait" or do the perch just eat it all?

[/b]

Now that's an interesting question. How often have you caught a really nice fish, and it pukes up a bunch of pin smelt. Or when cleaning some fish, you check its stomach and it's filled with tiny minnows. Last year I started fishing with only perch bait to test this, and will continue this year. Perch bait under the ice, suspended 20' down, and on bottom. So far 10lb pike. Another 10lb pike on Champlain. Maybe I'll get worn out by dink perch, but we'll see.

adkRoy · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 31, 2012, 07:07 PM »

Quote from: slymer83 on Jan 31, 2012, 04:14 PM

adkRoy thanks for the info i checked the regs and you are right! Thanks again ... I try to do the right thing and this forum helps alot i may try salting them too, is that how you interpret that law Can you jig Smelt in raquette that is where we r headed on Saturday

They way I interpret it, it hase to be prepackaged from a company.

JAGER61 · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 31, 2012, 07:56 PM »

Quote from: slymer83 on Jan 31, 2012, 04:14 PM

adkRoy thanks for the info i checked the regs and you are right! Thanks again ... I try to do the right thing and this forum helps alot i may try salting them too, is that how you interpret that law Can you jig Smelt in raquette that is where we r headed on Saturday

The smelt volume appears to be a bit lower this year on RL but they are there. Bring some back up bait, preferably emerald shiners if possible but try to jig up smelt as soon as you get there and catch plenty of them because you're gonna use 'em all up on them hungry lakers!

wish4fish · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 05:36 AM »

You can order packaged, preserved Smelt of any size from a hatchery. Due to bait regs. they aren't allowed to ship fresh frozen Smelt to NY.

nitzer · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 05:47 AM »

i think i asked this before...is there smelt in paradox lake? i see baitfish schools on my graph in the summer, but cant tell what they are. if they are smelt, what's the easiest way to get them thru the ice? i see alot of pics of you guys with buckets of them. any trick to it?

adkRoy · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 06:34 AM »

light action rod, hali-jig tipped with spikes has always worked for me.

1TIGGER · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 08:23 AM »

You can order packaged smelt in different sizes from fish on bait company and it is in fact legal in New York ! They had their process certified and they can send you a copy of their certification .

1TIGGER · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 08:27 AM »

http://www.fishonbait.com/

nitzer · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 08:44 AM »

thanks ADK.....is ther any in paradox?

adkRoy · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 10:34 AM »

Quote from: nitzer on Feb 01, 2012, 08:44 AM

thanks ADK.....is ther any in paradox?

Not that I know of. $:-\$

saquelie · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 11:21 AM »

paradox is loaded with smelt

nitzer · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 11:24 AM »

thanks adk...any of you laker fisherman know if smelt exist in paradox....or know what the piles of baitfish are in the deep sections?

nitzer · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 11:24 AM »

ya beat me saquelie...thanks....e asy to find and catch?

saquelie · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 01:47 PM »

i do the best just out side the narrows about 100 yards sraight out from briar point i get my bait first then jig up enough for a meal then jig for lakers the rest of the day.

nitzer · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 02:01 PM »

i know where your talking......drops to like 60feet, right? is that where u fish as well, or just for the bait?

saquelie · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 02:37 PM »

that is were i fish for lakers if you face the main rd route 74 about 100 yrds from shore is a spot i call the wall it starts out shallow from shore 8 to 12 ft then drops into the 30s i get some really big northerns shallow and lakers in the deeper the wall is a sheer drop off not gradual

nitzer · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 01, 2012, 04:03 PM »

i know exactly where...i fish there in spring for northerns and missed a monster at the boat! always wanted to laker fish there but never do....you must have an atv or something lol...i dont. my wife has a camp on the schroon inlet across the lake....thats a long walk..lol

News:

Author Topic: smelt as bait (Read 3432 times)