Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Stopped by park point around 930 last night. One group and they weren't having any luck. Lake was calm as could be too

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 351
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Northlander

    42

  • dougger222

    29

  • Lhmoobvaj

    28

  • reinhard1

    26

If anything, this week will tell us definitely if the smelt run is over or not. I hope tomorrow or this weekend the little guys make one last huge run before they decide to call it quits...we'll see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got 16 in three hours at the Beaver last night (lol), but had a good time standing around the fire bullshitting with friends. All males, so I'm guessing the run hasn't gone down yet up this way. Gonna try again tonight.

One dude netted a really nice looper and gave him back to the river.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From everything Im hearing and seeing is the last time anyone got any real amount of smelt was last Sunday. The past 3 nights have been dead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking back through the thread for Park Point, it seems like the most action was only on 4/21-4/24. Were there any other nights that were noteworthy and didn't make it into the reports? I didn't see these reports until late 4/23, and wasn't able to get out until 4/28-29 - the only action I heard about then was an occaisional 1-2 smelt per pull. In hindsight, it sure looks like the run was over before I got up there.

Is there anyone with better records that can summarize how many or which nights the smelt were running on Park Point in significant numbers this season?

Thanks,

Paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You are correct. The other days we couldnt get out so we may have gotten more but the wind/rain was too bad to try it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two fires, about 25 people, and two dogs at the Beaver last night. Got about 50 in two hours or so. Best scoop was six, most all of them males. Somehow a leak developed in the crotch of my Pro Line neoprenes, so I went home with a few dozen smelt, boots full of water, and soggy crotch. frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

and i bet they were down sized. laugh. thanks for the report. maby the rain will bring in some more. it's usualy the males that run up first. good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will also see only males at the end of the run.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will also see only males at the end of the run.

I guess the males are first and last to run? The reason why I say that is about 3 weeks ago on one of 19 or so lakes in MN with smelt we got 8 gallons and 9 out of 10 were males, all large. We were the first ones out smelting that got any. A week later a friend went and got 10 gallons and they were smaller, about 50/50 males/females.

Over in Ashland we found moslty males on the first outing and more females than males on the last outing. The spread was about a week apart.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, dumb question here, but is it size alone that you guys are using to distinguish male and female smelt? I know females tend to run bigger, but aren't there some smaller females that also make the spawning runs? Is EVERY breeder smelt a big girl?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Size and wether eggs or milt comes out of them when squeezed is how we get the difference. There are a bunch of different sized males and females in the mix when the run is on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Size and wether eggs or milt comes out of them when squeezed is how we get the difference. There are a bunch of different sized males and females in the mix when the run is on.

Yeah, I think I already understood the eggs and milt part. crazygrin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When you're dip netting and you reach in to grab them and put them in your bucket, you can tell immediately. The males have a rough feeling to them and the females are slippery. If I'm being choosey (and enough smelt are running) I'll toss the females back so I don't have to deal with all the millions of sticky eggs--it's easy to tell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like Spivak said the males have a rough surface to them and all females have a smooth surface to them .... size has never determined the sex of a smelt as far as I know... so again size does not matter wink

Jar Jar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

so it looks like the run is coming to a close to an end. time to move on to some other fishing.......

thanks to all that has chimed in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

so it looks like the run is coming to a close to an end. time to move on to some other fishing.......

thanks to all that has chimed in.

Speak for yourself there Mighty Lipsee. I'm hittin' the Beaver tonight! smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bowlingballhead, keep us posted. I wouldn't mind going one more time if there's something to catch. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bowlingballhead....I was speaking in general. not at anyone in particular.

but you keep us posted. goodluck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found size didn't matter at all with regards to male/female smelt. Research indicates smelt max out at 12-13 inches. We got some smelt out of Superior that pushed these lengths and both were male and female. Research also shows a smelt can live up to 8 years. Cleaned a few tiny smelt with eggs.

When they were running we had to have two people with five gallon buckets empty out the sein. It took a long time so we never had time to see how many were males and how many were females. As far as eggs they were everywere!!! When we started cleaning them we found the male to female ratio.

The first week when they were running ate smelt 5 times!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.