|
Post by dwalker on Apr 19, 2012 10:43:47 GMT -6
Wow did I Have a great time smelting last night with Dominodave. Only been down to the point a few times, but never caught that many before. We averaged around a gallon a pull all in all. Now I'm off to share the bounty with my relatives and friends.Friday night the locals nailed the smelt dipping in the rivers. Saturday it was slow until after 1:30 then they ran hard. Monday+Tues they were pretty slow in the rivers due to the snow melting off. Last night I got a couple dozen in 1/2 hr dipping while I was waiting for Dominodave to get to town. Will keep you guys updated. ~Dwalker
|
|
|
Post by dominodaves on Apr 19, 2012 12:04:54 GMT -6
Woolyboy, yes you need waders, and a smelting dip net or seine! Do not buy a dip net made of mesh, they are horrible and they are usually the only kind you can find in the cities! They do sell them seasonally up in Duluth at Marine General, call ahead to see if they have them in stock.
I might make a suggestion. Buy or borrow a pair of waders and make the trip up to Duluth. Go out on Park Point and offer to help pull some nets for a few of the tasties. This way you can learn how it's done out on the beach 1st and see what you will need in the long run. You could also post a "I'm a helper/puller available" on whatever night you go, here on this blog, usually someone will take you up on your offer, it's hard work and the more help the better. A really good seine runs a couple hundred bucks, and that's a big investment for a newby, so give it a try, get hooked and be ready for next year, and bring more friends. The smelt should be still running just fine this w/e so check out the beaches and learn how it's done. The rivers can be real good at times, but they also tend to be hit or miss, and it's more of an indivual sport there, and you would need a good metal dip net.
This blog site has many threads that you can read up on and educate yourself pretty good. Peter leaves them up from years past because they provide a history of what's happened, and what to expect in the future, and how to get it done. There is lots of useful information here for a newby!
Have fun and welcome aboard!
|
|
|
Post by ghostofsmeltpast on Apr 19, 2012 12:50:26 GMT -6
Is anyone having luck on the Ashland Wi side? Looking to come up this weekend from 3hours away. Any responses would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by splash on Apr 19, 2012 13:03:22 GMT -6
Is there anybody going out this evening? It'll be just my bro-in-law and myself pulling. If your thinking about coming out, pm me of leave a note.
Thanks for all the updates folks.
|
|
|
Post by ceopheng on Apr 19, 2012 13:14:29 GMT -6
I was in Ashland last sat and it was a bust. Lately there hasn't been any good reports. Your best bet is park point or superior. Good luck splash, as it forecast winds like Tuesday night where I was trying to hold to my dear life when the waves came in. Should still be good but rough.
|
|
|
Post by mailman on Apr 19, 2012 13:41:09 GMT -6
I'm going look at the point webcam, if the waves look reasonable me and a buddy will drive down. I like the tot lot for parking but I haven't heard many ppl say they are doing well there You can fire a text at me if you are showing up 1two 1 eight 78 zero 1445
|
|
|
Post by dominodaves on Apr 19, 2012 13:48:03 GMT -6
The wind looks like it's going to be out of the NE all evening. But the forecast on Accuweather has the speed at only 5-10, so the waves that you see should be the waves you get, no more in my opinion. So things should be good for tonight! If things aren't going well at the Tot lot, don't be afraid to move down to the break wall. Maybe start there, and move to Tot Lot...last night there were a lot of seines down there, 15-20? And everyone was getting them, so I would worry about too much company for now. We got there at 10:30ish and there were already pails full.
|
|
|
Post by midcoast on Apr 19, 2012 14:02:10 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by ghostofsmeltpast on Apr 19, 2012 14:27:51 GMT -6
A general question about the "smelt run". Do the smelt start running in the Duluth area first, then in the Ashland area or the other way around?
|
|
|
Post by dominodaves on Apr 19, 2012 15:33:09 GMT -6
Ashland usually goes 1st, then Park Point, then the rivers moving north up the shore. Now these usually overlap a bit, especially in MN, with the Point hanging on well after the Lester is done. But with the strange spring this year, it's been a crap shoot. The information coming out of Ashland has been very spotty this year. I believe that's because the run there hasn't been all that great. When things are real good there we usually here about it....not much has been said, therefore, I assume a poor run this year. We got some descent catches a couple days at the Lester, then it slowed, and the Point has taken off, and I haven't heard of anything at the Lester since. So if I were going to make a drive, I would hit the hot spot 1st (PP), and go from there.
|
|
|
Post by dominodaves on Apr 19, 2012 15:39:12 GMT -6
Midcoast, I see that forecast, and looking at the web-cam, I have concluded that you are looking at the edge of wetness!!!! ;D ;D
Good luck and bring some dry clothes!
|
|
|
Post by fish1123 on Apr 19, 2012 17:56:51 GMT -6
anyone need help pulling tonight?
|
|
|
Post by mailman on Apr 19, 2012 18:13:49 GMT -6
My partner bailed me, if youre looking to help man a net I should hit the tot lot in an hour. See previous post for my number.
|
|
|
Post by midcoast on Apr 19, 2012 19:06:19 GMT -6
Waves are rough tonight ...
|
|
|
Post by mailman on Apr 20, 2012 0:53:03 GMT -6
fish1123 helped me out tonight, I never did figure out where splash was. We got about 1/4 gallon which I let fish have cause with a household of 5 that is hardly a taste. We got half at the tot lot, moved to the break wall and got the other half there.
There were 2 groups with eastern European accents that were hammering them compared to us at the break wall. almost every pull they were rinsing them off using a dip net and had 3-4 inches of smelt in the bottom of the dip net.
2 things I noted that they were doing different. 1) added extra weight to the bottom of the seine (they said) 2) they manned their seines with 4 people. They had a 30-40 foot haul line attached to the bottom of each post on the end of the seine and each haul line was pulled by one person and each post was manned by one person.
|
|