Group: Members
Posts: 2503
Member No.: 10908
Joined: January 25, 2016
QUOTE (Flukes @ Apr 21, 2024 - 08:26 pm)
Now those size of lakers, I would consider eating too. A clarification. You said that you fishing buddy used a piece of smelt. What kind of piece? Also, I was always told that no smelt (dead or alive could be used as bait - I have never dived into this too deeply since there are other baits that can be used but always thought they would make good bait ...because the fish are eating them). Clearly, your buddy thinks it's legal to use a piece. Do you know for sure using a piece is legal? I am curious just in case, in the future I hit the smelt run up here then I can can keep pieces (like heads and eyeballs) from cleaning them to use as bait. I hate having to toss things that can be used, esp., if they are good bait.
Flukes you can us dead smelt as bait in all but a couple of zones.
Taken from the MNR site
“ Never buy or use live rainbow smelt as bait; it’s against the law. Dead rainbow smelt may be used as bait in Ontario except in Fisheries Management Zones 2, 4, 5 and 6, excluding Lake Nipigon and its tributaries, Nipigon River, Jessie lake, Lake Helen, and Polly Lake (see Fishing), where it is illegal to use them or possess them as bait.”
Group: Members
Posts: 1156
Member No.: 13075
Joined: January 11, 2017
QUOTE (Flukes @ Apr 21, 2024 - 08:26 pm)
Now those size of lakers, I would consider eating too. A clarification. You said that you fishing buddy used a piece of smelt. What kind of piece? Also, I was always told that no smelt (dead or alive could be used as bait - I have never dived into this too deeply since there are other baits that can be used but always thought they would make good bait ...because the fish are eating them). Clearly, your buddy thinks it's legal to use a piece. Do you know for sure using a piece is legal? I am curious just in case, in the future I hit the smelt run up here then I can can keep pieces (like heads and eyeballs) from cleaning them to use as bait. I hate having to toss things that can be used, esp., if they are good bait.
Keep the heads for spoon jigging, or for the eyeballs to tip my Simcoe bug. Some of these smelt were barely 2” (heads off) and either half or a whole one.
Group: Members
Posts: 2272
Member No.: 15901
Joined: April 12, 2018
that some good fishn there. buddy and I out this morning on st clair river, zero when we started with light winds, 2 hours later winds were up to about 30k. we got 1 walleye and pretty much everyone else we talked to had 1 or 2. Has to warm up.
Group: Members
Posts: 1362
Member No.: 15807
Joined: March 11, 2018
Thanks Disco and Mykola for that info. Now, I have a new bait option up here. Now, the question is how/where do you get smelt that small? At least I can use the head or eyeballs for tipping. I am hoping to get some smelt soon around here.
Group: Members
Posts: 5376
Member No.: 50
Joined: February 10, 2011
Beautiful fish.
PS: I didn't get chance to fish this past weekend (which is quite rare for me actually :-). Saturday was busy preparing son's wedding this coming Saturday, and Sunday was too windy so didn't bother to head out...
Group: Members
Posts: 1156
Member No.: 13075
Joined: January 11, 2017
QUOTE (xiaolu @ Apr 23, 2024 - 05:16 am)
Beautiful fish.
PS: I didn't get chance to fish this past weekend (which is quite rare for me actually :-). Saturday was busy preparing son's wedding this coming Saturday, and Sunday was too windy so didn't bother to head out...
Lots of rain this weekend, but 20c and very warm. Looks great Sunday.
Group: Members
Posts: 2503
Member No.: 10908
Joined: January 25, 2016
QUOTE (Flukes @ Apr 22, 2024 - 09:00 pm)
Thanks Disco and Mykola for that info. Now, I have a new bait option up here. Now, the question is how/where do you get smelt that small? At least I can use the head or eyeballs for tipping. I am hoping to get some smelt soon around here.
IDK where to get super small smelt but I am sure you could use strips like you do with herring for salmon.
I took a bunch of the big smelt I caught and filleted them and brined them to try while trolling meat rigs.
Group: Members
Posts: 5376
Member No.: 50
Joined: February 10, 2011
QUOTE (mykola @ Apr 23, 2024 - 08:09 am)
QUOTE (xiaolu @ Apr 23, 2024 - 05:16 am)
Beautiful fish.
PS: I didn't get chance to fish this past weekend (which is quite rare for me actually :-). Saturday was busy preparing son's wedding this coming Saturday, and Sunday was too windy so didn't bother to head out...
Lots of rain this weekend, but 20c and very warm. Looks great Sunday.
Yes I am hoping this coming Sunday I could get out and fish (if I don't get too drunk Saturday night, that is:-)
Group: Members
Posts: 11034
Member No.: 118
Joined: February 11, 2011
QUOTE (xiaolu @ Apr 23, 2024 - 09:58 am)
QUOTE (mykola @ Apr 23, 2024 - 08:09 am)
QUOTE (xiaolu @ Apr 23, 2024 - 05:16 am)
Beautiful fish.
PS: I didn't get chance to fish this past weekend (which is quite rare for me actually :-). Saturday was busy preparing son's wedding this coming Saturday, and Sunday was too windy so didn't bother to head out...
Lots of rain this weekend, but 20c and very warm. Looks great Sunday.
Yes I am hoping this coming Sunday I could get out and fish (if I don't get too drunk Saturday night, that is:-)
the odds are high that you wiil get high
back to the trout........now that is my preferred eater size also......sure it's fun to catch bigger, but the table fare is way better with smaller legal ones imo
Fishing Northern Lakes
Fishing forum for Northern Ontario, including Muskoka, Algonquin & Bancroft Area Lakes. Fishing for brook trout, lake trout, bass, walleye, pickerel, muskie, pike, crappie, perch, splake and more. Northern Ontario fishing at it's Best!
Fishing Northern Ontario & Bancroft Area Lakes - Forum : Fishing Tips, Current Conditions, Fishing Reports & more! Fishing Forum
Windy Lake Trout, Haliburton Golds
