Welcome Fish Lake Winni Angler's

Log On Today - Fish On Tomorrow!

(603) 731-1804 / (603) 344-8698

 

Welcome Fish Lake Winni Anglers
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
trolling smelt

Was wondering about trolling smelt with leadcore as I do not have riggers. Boat speed at its slowest is 1.6-1.7, is this too fast? Also how are they rigged? Single hook through the mouth or a sliding bait rig?
Thanks, good luck to all!

Re: trolling smelt

Lead Core will work 5-7 colors. I would run a Bait rig and bend the fish a bit to get him to roll. This will give the dead smelt some action and yes 1.5 range is a good speed... Don't forget your swivel for line twist...

Good Luck

Cool Water

Re: Re: trolling smelt

Thanks, I thought rolling was bad! By rolling you mean its spinning on its longitudinal axis like a spinner bait? Thats how I envision it!
thanks!

Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt

I think it's a similar action to a spoon, kind of a side to side wobble/1/2 roll sort of, not really spinning or being pulled straight through the water like a knife, but a little action. Perhaps someone else can explain it better.

There are other ways I'm told to give the proper effect besides sewing them on and/or bait rigs, with a little bend in the bait, secrets of the masters I guess, oops there's that word again, secrets. Meself I think the bait rigs are best as they have the double or treble hook in the **** for a better hookup. Lip Hooked requires a certain skill of recognising the bite quickly, giving some line then setting the hook, with many lost bites resulting, bites which can be scarce some days it seems.

I just had the feeling that they are scarce this time of year and that's why guys are tying frozen Smelt, some people keep the ones they buy and freeze them when they die and I believe you can also buy them frozen, if so I'll be keeping some on hand meself.

I'm sure you/we will get some more responses to the question, it's a good topic.

John S.

Re: trolling smelt

Are Smelt still availabe anywhere ?????????? Guys on Squam have been using frozen Smelt, sewn on to make em spin some, with good results when we had a good bite.

Sounds like you had a great night Trav, bring some of your "new spoons" and luck to Squam next week.

Got any info or web site address on Jim's Custom Spoons, my Social Security check just came ?


John S.

Re: Re: trolling smelt

When i was up at Memphramagog in canada yesterday, when we were launching the boat there must have been at least 3-4 thousand Huges bait pod right around the docks of what look like to me YOY smelt as most of them were only about 1 1/2 inches long some bigger but most about that size, funny this was watching this small 12" brookie hiding in a culvert then coming out and grabing a mouthful This little fish did this about 4 times as we were setting up the boat to head out So maybe the fish up there were gorged on YOY smelt? not sure? I know during the Derby i caught a few salmon and a couple of small lakers over by Rattlesnake with just a lip hooked med. golden shiner one was caught with 10colors of 18lb leadcore out trolling about 2.2mph. Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Donkey Dave From up North The Backwards Frenchman

Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt

I still have about 200 alive. if you keep them in 55 degree water they will keep all summer. The only trick is you need to make ice from the water, so you can change the water when your fishing and it will be cold, you also got to get them down quick or they will turn and die. I use a trebble hook, cut one of the hooks off at the base, take the 2 remaining hooks and straighten them so they are up/down, lip hook the smelt, now you have 2 hooks up front to get a set into. Another good trick with those sliders;
lip hook one smelt to the front, lip hook another to one of the hooks in the trebble, now you got a school and you just increased your odds by 50%, and they do awimm really good like that.

Popeye

Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt

Good ideas as usual from the Popeye man.

Guess I'll have to buy your dead ones, lol. I use the ice packs (packaged in plastic) and/or frozen water bottles (recomended here on the board) to keep my bait alive, when I use it. With water now 75+ degrees
now it's going to be hard to keep anything alive.

Do you think Smelt of the year are big enough for the Salmon to eat now ???? I now last year when the Salmon started to gorge on themselves on the smaller Smelt, the bite slowed and we had to use smaller Spoons sizes and single hook streamers to get the bite going again and that it did.

I have not seen the HUGE smelt pods (new smelt) yet, when they start showing I mean they are huge, they read as the bottom sometimes, what we have been seeing are the reuglar Smelt I think.. Or like Dave saw them in shallow water not yet moved to the deep.

Let's someone give a decripotion of the Rainbow Smelt life cycle, how about it Professor Adrien.

Thanks,

John S.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt thanks

What a response! Thanks to all; I will have to try it.

Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt

God Popeye your killing me. Another great simple idea I havent tried. THanks.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt

I have always made my own sliders, just a habit. The cut off treble came from years of misses doing single hooks, They out hit sliders 5-1.(to me) (notice I said hit) I tried just running them off a treble but they did not run right. After I cut off one of the hooks and straightend them out, they ran true, and yes they give me more hook ups.
The "school" is tons of fun when the salmon are on in the spring. Wait till you double up on the same line! Never get in 2 good ones, they always break off flying in different directions, but its a blast until they do!! The bonus is when they short hit and gobble you up, there is one more to eat and just maybe.....
And you will get more hits, and if your right on you'll put more in the boat with smelt.
Someone else has got to have tried running a school???
That along with my different color beaded line Proline is my gig with smelt. Oh, I didn't tell you about all the beads on my line that my friends think look silly.....

Popeye

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt question

Popeye one quick question if you know. A couple years ago we had a debate about running sliders and cheaters like they do at Lake O and I am fairly certain (99%) someone from F&G came on said it was legal to do but if done, that would constitute the two lines your allowed to fish. If you do run the two smelt is that considered your two rods also?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: trolling smelt question

I couldn't tell you. You can run 2 flys off a single pole. The only talk I have ever heard was on the # of hooks you can use. Good question, God, I might be an outlaw!!!!!

Popeye