bait

[river runt]

I think I still have some herring in the freezer from last year did any one else try the herring or smelt and how did you do, I did better with live suckers.

I normally use shiners but they were not available last year. RR

[bmc]

I only use smelt anymore. Being I didn't get any this spring, I put my left over sucker minnows from pike fishing in Borax, a zip loc, and in the freezer. I'll see how they work. I'm also gonna try Northlands Slurpie Minnows on the quick strike rig. Hopefully this Saturday, if the blizzard don't hit.

Brian

[Nick Kuhn]

I don't know how well slurpies would work on a deadstick, but if jigging I've never had a problem getting a hookset on pike with the single hook. Crappies are another story, they tend to just grab the tail.

[catflisher]

Do frozen smelt work on lakes that have no smelt naturally??

[minneman]

Yes

[catflisher]

Thanks!!...Is that from experience???...I'm down by Hudson, and there ain't no smelt here..Is it just that a norton who ain't smelt a smelt still thinks mmmmmmmmmmm...good? I know theres alot of foods I havn't eaten yet that can get me droolin' just from the aroma...Could a northern and me be that similar?? No wonder I love em'..

[Pike Pounder]

Ive used herring before with mixed results. Some days its hot others its well....not

[Gordie]

for me its about a tie but towards the middle of the year I have better luck with smelt and I usally only hang them down 1-3 foot under the ice in about 10-12 fow

[river runt]

Do the smelt work better with the guts in or out. RR

[Gordie]

caught pike on both and even got some that were cleaned that wernt deep fried.

[mnhunter79]

Where does a guy get smelt?

[Gordie]

a buddy of mine catches them on grindstone lake and saves some for me. Last year I heard that cashwise grocery stores carried them not sure cause I never checked my self.