Any Smelting Reports?

[MidCoast]

Anybody have any info on Smelting reports or where I can get a Smelting report?

[Jim Hudson]

They are not running yet - soon..

Keep in touch with River Rock Inn and Bait Shop... They usually update their Facebook page regularly on the smelt.. Or, give them a call..

A simple google search will hook you up with them

[lispeej]

As already said....not yet.

Fishing & Smelt Report

April 5, 2012

The local Bait Shops were out smelting Wednesday night and didn't get any Smelt. Continue to check this report http://www.visitashland.com/recreation/fishing.php or call the smelt hotline at 800-284-9484 and we will keep you informed on the smelt run and let you know when they start running. The forecast calls for sunny skies on Friday and mostly cloudy skies on Saturday and Sunday and brief showers on Saturday with temps in the 50's.

The "Smelt Run" in the Chequamegon Bay usually starts after the ice goes out of the Bay. Visitors and locals love “smelt season”. The smelt usually run late at night and are brought in with a seine net or dip net. The seine net is used on the shores of the big lake and some smelters use a dip net in the creeks. Smelting is always a fun time with the smell of the clean air of Chequamegon Bay and the awesome site of the many campfires along the shoreline. Smelters light campfires and enjoy the outdoors as they wait for the run to come in heavy. At times the smelt may start running at 9:00 p.m. or they may be running at Midnight or later. They are unpredictable little fish (approximately 4 to 5 inches in length) that only answer to Mother Nature. Smelt were planted in the lake many decades ago and are not a native fish in Lake Superior. Smelt season usually lasts 12 to 14 days. There is an old tradition that you bite the head off the first smelt brought in….of course you don’t actually eat the head but you would be the brave smelter for sticking with tradition.

[Jim Hudson]

Should start to see the run soon.. River Rock Inn and Bait Shop has fresh smelt in their shop right now, for sale. This was caught in pond nets set for them by commercial fisherman. Havent heard nothing from seiners or dippers yet, as the wave action was so fierce the past few days. Should be starting though..

[lispeej]

I hear the run has started, but not too sure of when it'll peak!

[snoozebutton]

I was in Ashland last night. Got call from a friend who said they did really good there Friday night but only caught a few (not quite a gallon) last night. When I got there they were cleaning and frying them up and had 5 5 gallon pales full. They sure are tasty.

[dougger222]

They ran a little Thur night and Sat 2-4am. We got 700 pounds Thur night two guys pulling the 75x6 w/purse and left when we were still getting 2-3 gallons a pull around midnight. The next night we left at 1am with 8 gallons. Reports were the amish got 100 pounds from 2-4am with a tiny sein. Chances are if we stuck around we would have gotten 1-2K pounds.

Last year the run was amazing. 3 outings and we filled everything in an hour each night. Would guess 4-6K lbs.

With ever increasing reports of a run in Duluth it makes we wonder if it's towards the tail end in Ashland.

[lispeej]

What a strange year. Where are the smelt? I haven't heard of very positive results from (Ashland) Chequamegon Bay. I know Duluth area is doing well. Did the smelt just came and gone in one night?