Smelt

[Dan Anderson]

Can we use smelt for ice fishing in Ont??? We are coming up for a week and some of the guys have brought smelt the last couple of years and I have heard they are illegal to use .

[magnum mike]

It is legal where ever you can legally use "live" bait. Certain places like Whitefish Bay it is a no no.

[superbee]

Smelt can NOT be used for bait in zone 4 or 5 in NW Ontario. It is stated on page 19 for zone 4 and page 23 for zone 5. It states "smelt may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait."

[Hoffer]

Superbee...i dont have my reg book...is there any link on where those zones are located?

I take it that ciscos or herring are ok?

Thanks!

[superbee]

Here is a link for the regs. From here you will be able find whatever you want. Ciscoes are ok, not sure about herring.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165338.html

[Cheers]

Ciscoes, Lake herring, Tulibee are all names for the same fish . Smelt are taboo in the FortFrances, Kenora Atikokan areas

[Hoffer]

actually I dont think so...I have seen them sell packs of blue herring at the rainy lakes sports shop. Havent seen them sell ciscos - but ciscos and herring are very different than smelt. I also dont think rainy lake sports in fort frances would sell packs of herring if they were not legal????

We usually just bring up frozen suckers - but they get soft so fast.

[Cheers]

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Cisco

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Salmoniformes

Family: Salmonidae

Subfamily: Coregoninae

Genus: Coregonus

Species: C. artedi

Binomial name

Coregonus artedi

Lesueur, 1818

The northern cisco (Coregonus artedi), also known as lake herring or tullibee, is a species of fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae).

This is what is for sale at RL bait and tackle . Smelt are not to be used ! Blue herring is not listed as a fresh water fish nor does it come up on a google search

[Hoffer]

Hey cheers-

I think we are on the same page :-)

Smelt are a no-no.

Smelt are not the same as Ciscos - right? Sounds like from your explanation - ciscos are basically tullibee -maybe just smaller tullibee?

so....bottomline = ciscos, or suckers - or also what I call Blue herring are OK. Are we on same page?

I bring up the "blue herring" only becuae there is a sport store that I go to that sells packs of these that are perfectly freeze dried. They are listed as "herring" They stay nice and neat and the Northerns do like them. They have a very blue tint to them. They arent as oily and "good" smelling as say the ciscos but they do work. Havent used them for trout - but may try this year.

[Cheers]

You got it now !