Tweet
Whats the best type of bait and set up to use for smelting in Maine?
-
-
Raw shrimp pieces. I use a 1/2 oz bell sinker then tie in a small tear drop jig 6" up, then another tear drop jig 6" higher again.Its like a tiny dropshot rig.Once I have caught a few smelts,I cut the throat piece out and use it for bait. Turn a fish upside down and cut across just behind the gills. Grab the cut piece and pull towards the mouth. A triangular piece of bait is produced.
A few other tricks to drawn smelts to your hole(Im guessing your ice fishing for them) is to take a few egg shells and crush them. Sprinkle the crushed shells over the water periodically,and as they sink they attract smelts.A tin of oil packed sardines, poked full of holes with the tip of a sturdy knife and dropped to the bottom will also drawn in smelt. -
cool thanks, yeah my buddy got permission to use a shack he helped some guy with out near the coast on a river. They got some tommy cod out of it but haven't heard of many smelt being taken as of yet.Comment
-
Im a little farther north than you, but in these parts smelting is just about over.December and Januarary are peak, after that success rates drop quickly.Not to mention further into Feburary smelt start filing up with roe for their spring spawn,and this sees to make them less desirable tablefare.There might be some larger tommy's hanging around, and if so they usually keep smelts on the run.Comment
Comment