Smelt rigs

[topwaterjoe]

Gentlemen, I have some lame noob questions, but please bare with me.

Smelt rigs: Two dropper hooks and a sinker at the bottom? How big should the hooks and sinker be? Distance between the hooks? Yarn, small plastic waxies, micro grubs and tubes? Fish closer to the surface, or just off bottom? Maybe a small spoon in the mix for a bit of flash?

Thanks!

 

[BackwoodsBassr]

Hey dude I can't claim to know a darn thing about smelt fishing but your post got me curious so I googled it and read this article that kinda answered a few of your questions. My apologies if you've already read this but since no one else posted I figured why not. cheers! http://www.icefishingchat.com/smelt-rigs-for-ice-fishing.php

To get to the meat of it:

Depth: varies but they're often hiding near the bottom
Rig: Tungsten jigs, very small
Tip with: Spikes (powerbait makes some, never used em personally)

 

[topwaterjoe]

Thanks BWB, looks like we are comparing notes on this one! The rig I saw on youtube was like a fun-sized perch rig tipped with those small plastics in your link. I should have most of this stuff in my panfish box. Looks pretty straightforward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzMl51VvP-M

 

[BackwoodsBassr]

Haha well keep in mind that I haven't caught poop through the ice this year before you take my advice but yah I can't see it being much different from a perch rig. I looked some up on youtube and google images for visual references and saw exactly what you're talking about so I bet that will do just fine.

I've tried gulp alive angleworms too and they have cool action with a similar profile to the spikes but a bit longer. They were like $3 on sale at lebarons.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes man, I hope the smelt are as tasty as the article made them out to be!

 

[O.My.Buddy]

Smelt are very tasty little fish. I'm gonna rig a rod for tommorrow...if the lakers and whitey's aren't on maybe I can catch smelts. I haven't had a feed of smelt in years.

 

[topwaterjoe]

Haha well keep in mind that I haven't caught poop through the ice this year before you take my advice but yah I can't see it being much different from a perch rig. I looked some up on youtube and google images for visual references and saw exactly what you're talking about so I bet that will do just fine.

I've tried gulp alive angleworms too and they have cool action with a similar profile to the spikes but a bit longer. They were like $3 on sale at lebarons.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes man, I hope the smelt are as tasty as the article made them out to be!

Lol ice fishing is completely foreign territory for me. Hopefully I catch something other than a cold!

 

[Float_down]

We get them on my home lake with an ultra light rod and a number 14/16 hook tipped with a minnow tail. Couple of split shots up above it, and just jig it lightly with your finger tip. Not uncommon to get 50 if you work for them.

 

[RedCat]

how big is a big smelt? I have used them for pike bait but never eaten them myself. Not much of a fish eater.

 

[topwaterjoe]

how big is a big smelt? I have used them for pike bait but never eaten them myself. Not much of a fish eater.

I would say they do not get much bigger than a sardine. It is all about numbers in this case. Tasty little golden, crispy numbers.

 

[Float_down]

We've got them pretty large actually, 10-12" a few bigger. I'll see if I can dig up some old photos.

 

[hightechdecks]

chainsaw the ice than use a lantern and dipnet at night never tried it but am sure it would work.
PS when ever i mark smelt balls they are from 15-30 ft down over 100 fow. thats is why lakers rush baits held above them.

 

[topwaterjoe]

We've got them pretty large actually, 10-12" a few bigger. I'll see if I can dig up some old photos.

!!! :blink: