First full fledged smelting adventure.

[SDHNTR]

I finally got to go on a full smelting adventure. To start it off let me set the weather. Cloudy, drizzly rain, 25mph wind from the SW and we are on a NE shore at 10:30 pm. Only two of us brought waders, come to find out that everyone else was smart for not bringing them. All we have for light is several lanterns and a couple of flashlights. We have a 30' long net with a pole on each end. It is about 2.5' tall with weights on the bottom and foam floaters on the top. The first several pulls I took the shallow side and the other guy to the deep side. I couldn't understand at the time why he was going so slow but he had done it before so I didn't ask(first mistake). We had an ok pull. He finally decided to let me take the deep end after a while. I started walking out deeper, I was trying to go faster than he did just out of an ego stand point. Well I tripped on a rock and leaned over to catch myself and caught a wave over the top of my waders. VERY COLD. After we pulled the net into shore and had smelt in it. I lifted my end like before to shake the smelt to the middle of the net. But this time my arms had been under water, and with the water in the sleeves of my rain gear, it ran down my arms and right into my waders again. That was the second lesson I learned. All in all it was a good learning and very fun experience. We ended up with a 5 gallon pail of smelt which I was told was a pretty decent night especially for this year. The smelt run is pretty much over for the year and people have started catching nice walleyes again pulling plugs. Mostly in 15-22 feet of water. So if you have never tried smelting or haven't done it in a long time I think you should give it a try. Or if all else, the walleyes are biting again around Mobridge so if you are in the area its worth wetting a line.

[iffwalleyes]

Nice report Bubba did you recover from your night sat??

[Gotem]

What area where you smelting? Just wondering if there is still time to get out in the Whitlocks area or south further.

[SDHNTR]

We were smelting near Indian Creek State Park near Mobridge. As slow as the smelt seemed to be moving down river you still might be able to do some smelting near Whitlock being as that is about 40-50 miles south of Mobridge. Tough to say though.

Well, Jason, I managed not to be hung over on Sunday morning. I was tired though. Blake wasn't doing the best, he puked down both the inside and outside of his car door on the ride back to the hotel. Good thing we had someone else drive him and his car back.

[Tyler Holm]

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he puked down both the inside and outside of his car door on the ride back to the hotel.

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That's a solid move. Seems like everybody has to try that at least once in their life. My time has come and gone (hopefully forever).