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Post by Stub on Apr 28, 2018 12:10:48 GMT -6
I'm in Duluth, but I've got a couple buddies set to come up may 5th weekend. Work the weekend after that, which will probably turn out to be the prime weekend I'm assuming. Still hopeful that we get some really nice days this week to set things up for next weekend. Lake temp is about 4 degrees from where it should be assuming 40 degrees is the trigger point for them to spawn.
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Post by yammaddogg on Apr 28, 2018 15:36:10 GMT -6
Next weekend its on
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Post by smellter on Apr 29, 2018 6:17:02 GMT -6
The smelt started running in Ashland around May 10 and on Park Point around May 15 in 2014.
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Post by jb on Apr 29, 2018 9:29:52 GMT -6
How many consecutive days might the smelt be optimal for the catching once they do come in ? Of course mother nature does influence whatever happens. With this in mind, I suppose we can't be expectful if they run on a Friday and Saturday night be for many of us we hope that's the case.
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 29, 2018 11:44:20 GMT -6
Once they start running, they will keep running with this late spring. Some spots will be better than others, and the productivity of spots will change by the day and the mood of the schools of smelt.
In the rivers, typically 7 to 10 days and they are done. The beaches along Park Point can last for 3 to 4 weeks. I do not know why, but that's the way it is. Maybe because the waters experience more of an up and down in water temps....just guessing! Lol
This year, I expect a much more compact set of days, and a more intense run! So maybe only 15 to 20 days on the point this year. And your nets will be full!
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Post by mplzen on Apr 30, 2018 9:35:57 GMT -6
I went up this weekend to try the smelt in the Lester, just because that is the only weekend I think I have free for several weeks. I went to Park Point Saturday evening and looked at the ice. Like BD110 shows, there is a lot of ice there. I was about half way down to the airport and on the shore I would say the ice pack was 4 feet high and went out 40 years, slowly sloping down out towards the lake. That looks like three weeks before that ice would melt away. What do I know about that though, warm weather and crashing waves maybe can break it up in a week or two.
I was at the Lester River smelting Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to about midnight. Nothing Friday. I did catch 2 smallish ones on Saturday. There is no ice around the Lester. I didn't see ice chunks running down the river either. It was running fast. I was on the edge of the current just inside the mouth of the river, and just beside the river on the lake. The two smelt came from the lake right next to the river current spilling into the lake. I'm sure it was too cold. But I thought with a few warm days and Park Point all iced in, maybe some smelt were eager to get it on.
Incidentally, I went up in the daytime Saturday to the Stewart River in Two Harbors. The ice is all gone there too. I was fly fishing there. There were probably a dozen guys in there. No trout caught. I did hear a group of guys got 6 trout at the Knife River. People generally thought probably still a little too cold for trout too.
Went up to Gooseberry as well. Some ice chunks above the river banks in the shade. Didn't fish there, just looking around.
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Post by mplzen on Apr 30, 2018 9:37:03 GMT -6
.... ice pack went out 40 yards, not years
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 30, 2018 12:29:08 GMT -6
Thanks for the awesome update. Exactly what all of us are looking for. Hopefully the run will be hanging on for you when you have time to get back up there!
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Post by iluvmn on Apr 30, 2018 12:37:47 GMT -6
Thanks MPLZEN for the awesome update!!! Hope you still had a good time. Its only getting closer
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Post by Metro man on Apr 30, 2018 14:20:21 GMT -6
One good west wind and the beach will be broke open and smelt will be running that evening. We are waiting on a windy day, not 4ft of ice to melt.
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Post by jg010682 on May 1, 2018 6:15:35 GMT -6
West wind isn't going to do much to help the situation up there unfortunately it makes the beach side calm and will not break up that thick ice on the beach my money is on the weekend of the 12 and 13 being about the beginning of the run
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Post by whiskey on May 1, 2018 11:04:38 GMT -6
How much ice is in Ashland do you think 2 or 3rd week.
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Post by Stub on May 1, 2018 11:42:56 GMT -6
Went down to park point last night to see for myself, still alot of ice out there. However, while I was stuck behind the lift bridge I saw some guys fishing with a drop net and they had the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket filled with smelt (not many, but that means they are there and staging). That being said, 70 degrees yesterday and today has got to do a number on that ice. Come hell of high water I'm fishing this weekend, even if it means rigging up a drop net to fish off of the break wall!
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Post by yammaddogg on May 1, 2018 13:06:12 GMT -6
Hey stub fyi mn isnt "drop net friendly"
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Post by hardhitter3142 on May 1, 2018 13:10:51 GMT -6
Hey stub fyi mn isnt "drop net friendly" I run drop nets and have talk to many DNR officers as long as it's within the sain laws and your not casting it you are fine . I run 4x6 for 3 years. I had one officer take photos and bring them to his boss in the cities and he called and gave me the go ahead. We are just pulling the main a different way is the way he put it .
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