smelt rigs

[wmu1989]

I am wondering if there is a better method other than a jig and spike to catch smelt? I'm catching them but seem to lose way more than I hook. I'm using a fiskas 4mm tipped with a spike. I've heard of a hook with yarn or cotton ball? They say their "teeth" get caught in the yarn. Any input would be gratly appreciated. I,ve been fishing Gull Lake

[DocHoliday]

I use a rig that consists of the smallest hali jig on the bottom and a very small teardrop about 6" - 8" above that. Both tipped with spikes. The teardrop is about a size 14. the smaller the better. The hali jig catches quite a few but is basically a weight to get the smaller tear drop down where the smelt are. Some nights you catch more on the tear drop and others you catch them on the Hali. And I use 4lb test line. I have broke off a few rigs with lighter line just setting the hook. Normally fishing at dusk and after with a lantern settiing on the ice in the shanty. A good sonar unit is a must unless there is a smeltvillage of fisherman around that are talking alot and are willing to tell you how deep.

[Clinch]

Never went out for them but I did talk to a old man , had to be 75 or so . He said use a tiny trout hook, the smallest you can find and tip it with a piece of any kind of tough meat , he said he uses beef jerky beacause its tough and thay cant pull it off. This old man has been catchin them for many years and fills his buckets. Find a hook that can fit in their mouth even if you have to buy some tiny flies and cut the mateirial off. He said the biggest mistake he sees is people using too big of hooks.

[Fishslayer5789]

Tip a Sabiki rig with waxies or white spikes and instead of putting a weight on the bottom of the rig, put a hali jig there. I saw a guy pull up 4 smelt at one time with that set-up.

[polishyeti]

WMU , I've been interested in fishing gull lake this year as I've been laid off. How is the ice over there? This is perfect for me as I am a night owl anyway.

[DocHoliday]

Tip a Sabiki rig with waxies or white spikes and instead of putting a weight on the bottom of the rig, put a hali jig there. I saw a guy pull up 4 smelt at one time with that set-up.

I've used the sabiki bait rigs in the past with some success. Then I was told you are still limited to two hookd per line even when smelt fishing. So I swiched to the hali / tear dop rig. I seem to do better with the tear drop as compared to the sabiki flies.

[nscrfrk]

I use halis and pimples at ends of my lines,equally effective. And I use both gold and red #12 off-set hooks, spaced 15-18" apart. These keep the hooks away from the line and on a more horizontal plane for faster hook sets.Thought the number of hooks when fishing smelt was unlimited...I better check again. And a hint for catching more smelt?...Look in a recent fishing magazine;had a good article on smelt with an idea that I never heard of but might try. :D Good luck...PM me if you know the answer,I'll tell ya' if u r right

[jrv]

I've used the sabiki bait rigs in the past with some success. Then I was told you are still limited to two hookd per line even when smelt fishing. So I swiched to the hali / tear dop rig. I seem to do better with the tear drop as compared to the sabiki flies.

On designated smelt lakes you can use more than two hooks. You have to check the DNR site to see which lakes qualify. I got a list from a local bait shop, who printed the list off the DNR site.

[Burksee]

I've seen a rig using a bicycle wheel with mono and a length of red yarn on the end with about a 1 OZ bell sinker at the end of the yarn. Talk about a speed reel! The little buggers bite on the yarn and you roll them up! :D

[nscrfrk]

I've seen a rig using a bicycle wheel with mono and a length of red yarn on the end with about a 1 OZ bell sinker at the end of the yarn. Talk about a speed reel! The little buggers bite on the yarn and you roll them up! :DYup,back in the L/60's E/70's a friend of my dads had 'em on his perma-shack.2 wheels on each end w/ half a dozen hooks on each one...what a blast...just like Pat Sajak!:D

[DocHoliday]

Yup,back in the L/60's E/70's a friend of my dads had 'em on his perma-shack.2 wheels on each end w/ half a dozen hooks on each one...what a blast...just like Pat Sajak!:D

Pat is way to short to be allowed out smelt fishing. Besides it would mess up his hair. :lol:

[Lab-lover]

Love catching smelt!!!! I talked with an old guy last year that uses waxies and small strips of his wife's nylons on each hook. The bait draws them in and when they bite their teeth get caught in the nylon. He says he catches more on the nylon than on the hook itself. The nylon strips are about 1/4" by 1" just hooked thru one end and left dangling. I'm not sure about smelt but a nice pair of nylons has caught me once or twice. ;)

[vano397]

heres the link on the DNR and smelt rigs. it says any number of hooks may be used, so a whole sabiki rig with a hali on the bottom is legal. It also says that on regular waters 2 lines (including tip ups) and 4 hooks, it doesn't say anything about just 2 on each line... you could have 3 and 1 or just 4 on one line and not a second line.
oh and has anyone been out to crystal lake in bezie for smelt yet this year?

[wally-eye]

heres the link on the DNR and smelt rigs. it says any number of hooks may be used, so a whole sabiki rig with a hali on the bottom is legal. It also says that on regular waters 2 lines (including tip ups) and 4 hooks, it doesn't say anything about just 2 on each line... you could have 3 and 1 or just 4 on one line and not a second line.
oh and has anyone been out to crystal lake in bezie for smelt yet this year?


Mostly open water yet, only 30 to 40% froze......fishing what little ice there is on the far east end of the lake......dink perch.

[vano397]

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/lawful-fishing-methods_229771_7.pdf
sorry it didn't copy the last time!