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Post by oldtimersmeltking on Apr 1, 2017 17:55:44 GMT -6
I've been following this forum for years but finally decided to join ,this forum has been helpful in the past few years to help pinpoint the timing of my trips up to get smelt thanks all who have contributed
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Post by johnnyniceguy on Apr 1, 2017 18:54:02 GMT -6
Welcome Oldtimersmeltking! I too have been following and hope to join this group on the water this year.
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Post by jb on Apr 2, 2017 9:18:32 GMT -6
Hi everybody !!.....Does anybody know the habits of the species Smelt as to where you find them during their spawning , I know you find them sometimes in the little creeks and tributaries flowing into the St.Louis River Bay and the Bays of Lake Superior, but where would they be first, near the shores of lake superior then later upstreams ....or is it not really something you can identify easily?
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Fridley First Timer
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Post by Fridley First Timer on Apr 2, 2017 10:21:52 GMT -6
Hello all! I'm no longer a first-time smelter after last year when I was dip netting at the Lester. We met a really nice guy (Tim) and his family and shared a small fire for the two nights I was there with my brother. We only ended up bringing home a couple of bread bags full of smelt but we had a blast and after talking to Tim, we went out and bought a Christiansen 4X25 with pocket for this year. I have a few questions regarding the best place to use our new net if someone could please take the time to answer them. After following this great thread both last year and now this year, I was kind of confused about just where some of the places being talked about were. This last weekend, we were up in Duluth and crossed the lift bridge and drove out to the airport to where we had to turn around. I think anything past there (on the dune side) is what's known as Park Point?... and as we headed back towards the bridge, we stopped at the "Beach House" and talked to a worker who was doing some fixing up inside and he told us that ANYWHERE in front of the beach house was good for netting....is this area what people call the "Tot Lot"? As for parking, I read last year that they don't ticket or tow during smelting season......is that in one of those many lots?, or just along the side of the road? And just before we crossed back over the bridge, there was a walkway going to a small field that led to a wall down by the water....is this "The Wall"? and is this the best place to access it? Thank you all for any information you might be able to help us with. Have a great day and happy smelting!
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Fridley First Timer
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Post by Fridley First Timer on Apr 2, 2017 15:20:51 GMT -6
Thank you dougger222! You and domino and all the other regulars on here are GREAT for help and support. My brother and Me actually parked in that "Tot Lot" last Thursday when we first hit town and talked with a crazy kayaker (BRRRR) who didn't know about smelt but pointed us to the airport. Are those side streets between the wall and the Tot Lot OK for parking and/or accessing the dunes?...and would toboggans or wagons be a help or hinderance for pulling gear and smelt through the dunes and out to the street or parking lot? Thanks again!
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Post by yammaddogg on Apr 2, 2017 15:27:25 GMT -6
I plan on being up there the weekends ofApril22,29and May6th
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Post by NetMaster on Apr 3, 2017 6:16:50 GMT -6
Thank you dougger222! You and domino and all the other regulars on here are GREAT for help and support. My brother and Me actually parked in that "Tot Lot" last Thursday when we first hit town and talked with a crazy kayaker (BRRRR) who didn't know about smelt but pointed us to the airport. Are those side streets between the wall and the Tot Lot OK for parking and/or accessing the dunes?...and would toboggans or wagons be a help or hinderance for pulling gear and smelt through the dunes and out to the street or parking lot? Thanks again! I think that Sleds can work on the sand and wagons with wide tires can work ok as well ... but the walk across the boardwalks (over the sand dunes) is always a challenge. Large coolers look cool and hold a lot of smelt, but once they are fully loaded with smelt... getting them off the beach without a forklift is a problem 1 cooler goes to the beach, that can strap to my sled and a few 5 gallon buckets. And YES ... if your cooler has a drain plug.... chances are you will know if it leaks by the time you drive three hours home with smelt in it! And yes make sure your cooler drain plug stays closed for the ride home, other wise I know for a fact that it takes about 2 years to get the smelt smell out of the carpet in your van!
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Post by smelt007 on Apr 3, 2017 7:13:47 GMT -6
Been following this forum for a couple of years now and decided to join in on the fun. Hoping for another successful smelting season this year. Can't wait to get my smelt on...
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Post by whiskey on Apr 3, 2017 7:18:14 GMT -6
I am getting all my gear ready joined last year thanks for all the info last year. I filled up 4 coolers full in 2 days a lot of cleaning well worth it. I finished my last bag last weekend time for more. Do you think the run will be around the same time as last year or do you think sooner.
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Post by Scout on Apr 3, 2017 7:20:29 GMT -6
I know a few who may be coming up this weekend.. Weather's been warm but I think it's still a little too early.
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Post by jbwater2wist on Apr 3, 2017 11:10:56 GMT -6
Do any locals use a trolley and gill-net method ?
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Post by madbrad104 on Apr 3, 2017 11:25:56 GMT -6
Do any locals use a trolley and gill-net method ? You mean the umbrella drop net ? If yes our crew does on Wisconsin Point works awesome off the walls on canal looking at my records we were there April 16 last year and will do that again this year if water temps increase as I have a 4 hour drive from Wausau Wisconsin we will post how we are doing there as we always do lol
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Post by jb on Apr 3, 2017 16:41:21 GMT -6
So,...I'm hoping for the weekend of the 22nd and the 23Rd of April to be a good week-end to come up and try my luck off Wisconsin point,.... THANK-YOU Dougger222 for that bit of info about the habits of the Smelt spawning.
If anybody has some advance sightings of the smelt within the catching I am sure I'll read it on here, RIGHT?
Thanks everybody for the knowledge and keeping everybody up to Date!!! Invaluable Information!
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Post by 1st timer on Apr 3, 2017 20:05:42 GMT -6
Anyone know where should we go for dipping smelt up in duluth area ? Please share
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Post by jg010682 on Apr 3, 2017 20:16:08 GMT -6
Never had much luck dippin for them but you could try the lester otherwise look in the dnr regulations and look up the superior regulations and you can find the rivers that are not allowed to smelt in that way you know wich ones not to go to if i was you i would call duluth nets and get a 4 foot by 25 foot seining net with the pocket and go try park point we usually atleast on a bad night get a bucket full if you work hard enough
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