Smelt 2019

Couldn’t find a recent thread on smelt; please redirect if there’s one going this year. Anyway, I’d like to try smelt netting (dip netting) this year for the first time, to write about it for my blog. Specifically looking at the MN Superior shore. I’ve done a bit of research already, and I have a window of opportunity next week. I only want to go if I think the time might be right. I read something about the importance of rain in getting the smelt up in the rivers. How important is this? And if anybody is willing to signal me when they’re running I’d appreciate it. PM is fine. Not asking for spots, just the right time. TIA!

Keep an eye on hookertoo proboard.com lake superior smelt report. They are pretty much all about smelting and the run. Water temp too cold yet for the smelt to hit the rivers for dip netting, but as soon as the ice chunks disappear from the beach you’ll be able to seine them with a partner. I’ve been going down there to the Lester river for the last five years when the smelt start hitting the rivers. Maybe another week but probably two would be my guess.

Used to do real well on the knife river. but they usually wouldnt be up in rivers until late april/early may.

Next weekend for the north shore, the rivers are up and the temp is just starting to work with the run off.

The big silver fish, steelhead, really like 40 degree water temperatures. The little silver fish, smelt, want it a couple degrees warmer than that. Upcoming sunshine and warmer nights should help.

Smelt are going good right now on Lake Superior. I took home three gallons last night, all I need . It was packed at the Lester river it made it hard to dip them .

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Mmmmmmmmm