Does smelt work?

[South_Metro_Slayer]

I bought some smelt yesterday, used it last night i had no takers, has anyone ever had luck on smelt for kitties?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I haven't used it a ton, but I have caught fish on it.

[slipperybob]

Smelt works really well for pikes, an occassional walleye.

Smelt is one of my choice of bait for channels and blues.

[Shack]

I went on a smelt binge a couple of years ago. I had ok luck with it for cats. I hate to say it, but sucker works better. It started to cost more and hard to find up in north metro area. I am still learning about bull heads, but sucker is may second choice. Good Luck!

[troyfideldy]

What works the best for you guys, suckers, chubs or shiners?

[Big Cat Dad]

Smelt is a second rate bait for Channel Cats. You will catch fish on it but not as much if you were using cut goldeye, sucker or Chub. Unfortunately I used smelt quite often in the past.....used to.

[hanson]

My favorite cutbaits are:

- Goldeye

- Shad

- Sucker

- Creek Chub

- Frog

Your best baits are going to be those that are found naturally in the body of water you are fishing. The baits I listed above all seam to perform better on certain rivers in the state.

Red River - Goldeye is dynamite. Goldeye is also very, very common in the Red and its tributaries so the cats are used to feeding on it. If I could have 1 bait on the Red, it would be Goldeye.

Mississippi, Minnesota, St Croix Rivers - Shad without a doubt is an awesome bait for channels. Once again, its naturally occurring here. If I could have one bait on the Mississippi, it would be Shad.

Cut sucker is a pretty universal bait and works better at certain times of the year. Sucker in the spring on the Red is a good bet but come fall, it doesn't produce like a frog will. I usually always hit the river with suckers in the cooler.

Creek Chub is great because of the oils and smells in the bait. Its stinky! And definitely tasty to the cats.

Definitely have a variety of baits with when chasing channels, and experiment til you find something that works. Some baits work better on certain bodies of water. Some baits work better at certain times of year.

[South_Metro_Slayer]

Thanks, Hanson. thats why I like this sight I learn new dump all the time, even though its all river fishin commen sense. Thanks again guys

[slipperybob]

Umm. you use cut frogs?

I've always thought used whole?

[Big Cat Dad]

They both work well and to be honest I don't really know how much difference there is between cut or live frog. I currently rig my leopard frog by hooking the frog through the head and chopping off or clipping the meaty part of the frog legs.

That allows the frog to thrash around but also has the frog’s blood and juices flowing in the water which definitely attracts the cats.

[slipperybob]

Ah, I see...How'd I overlooked that?

It's just like injuring a sucker minnow to make it more tempting.

[sachem longrifle]

We once fished for channel cats using both chicken livers and smelt. The livers did outproduce. Just an FYI