smelt fishing

[flagguy83]

whats the best way to catch them little buggers? I am new to fishing for them and any pointers would be nice.

[Higgins]

whats the best way to catch them little buggers? I am new to fishing for them and any pointers would be nice.

Here is my suggestions on what is ideal to have:

1.Submersible light- Insects come into the light and then the smelt come in to feed on them.
2.Sonar- Smelt are almost always suspended and a sonar can really help find them in the water column with out the hassle of working the water column for what can be a hard night.
3.Hali or Hali plus 3 to 5 tear drops on the main line- You need a fairly heavy lure to get down to the deep depths and it needs to have small hooks.
4.Lantern- You mainly fish them at night so your gonna need some light.
5.Bait- Almost any kinda small bait will work but make sure you get plenty of it cause some nights the action is none stop (I like to use spikes).
6.And if you have trouble staying up than you might want to get some 5 hour energy drinks  .

[princecraft]

Is there any submergable lights out there that use LEDS that work good for this?  I am looking for something that would not drain a battery so quick.

[Higgins]

Is there any submergable lights out there that use LEDS that work good for this?  I am looking for something that would not drain a battery so quick.

I don't think there are any LED's out there but here is where I got mine any ways:

http://www.fishinglightsetc.com/AquaStarcombo-IV.html

[mud_n_fun]

Go to oznium.com . They have some awsome ones.

[princecraft]

mud-n-fun,.......Nice but I don't see any submergeable ones.

[Higgins]

mud-n-fun,.......Nice but I don't see any submergeable ones.

For them to be submersible they just need to be water proof which they all seem to be on the site that he gave so the only thing that you might have a problame with is getting them to sink so I say just strap some lead to them and send um down  . But if you want a true fishing light then I think the LED are going to be hard to find just cause that's FANCY STUFF  .

[mud_n_fun]

http://www.oznium.com/marine-led-light
Say's fully submersable

[princecraft]

I missed that one.   I don't see any reason why that would not work.   Thanks

[Kziceman]

I have not fished Higgins or Green lakes for smelt but on Gull Lk I have not seen any difference when I use a submersible light or don't. I bought two lights a few years back. One with five green LED's and one with a single green LED and a lot of reflectors. 

I drill four or five holes close together and use two lanterns the light brings the smelt come right up. I am usually fishing no more than six feet down in 30 to 80 feet of water.

KZ