Smelt.......

[minnowdangler71]

where does a guy find smelt to net for bait? tower/ely area. What type of inlet/outlet of a lake do they prefer? thanks in advance. mike

[Great Outdoors]

Not too many options in the Ely area. Eagles Nest Lake 1, Burntside, or Little Long. The size in Eagles Nest or Little Long is decent, Burntside are small. Some people angle for them in LL, with a tiny hook and a waxie. Usually seined in a river mouth where the current draws them in, may be hard to find much water this year, unless we get a butt kicking rain shower. I've always wanted to try to make my own current,by anchoring an electric trolling motor to a cribbing, turning it on, then seining in front of it. Some bait dealers use a similar method with a large pump and set their traps in front of the suction intake.