I can find all kinds of bait pods, whether they are smelt, white perch, etc. just find 60 to 65 FOW and bait pods are there, that where they have been hanging out for the last month. Still no bites when going over them fishing from 40 to 50 ft down on lead core and DR.
I'f they are in spawn mode they may have other priorities than hanging on the smelt... They may be stacking up at the mouths of the rivers / streams, even smaller creeks if they are flowing and cool.