Eastern UP smelt

[Tubes77]

Wondering if anyone can help me out. I went to school at Lake Superior State (1989) and while up there, rember going down to the Carp river near St. Ignace and dipping smelt. I was from down state and had dipped in the St. Clair river, but never had the success we had in the carp river. I've been telling some buddies how great it was and I think they thinkg I'm full of it. Anyway, I was wondering if they still run in the river there and when would be a good time to make the trip up there? I did make it back up there a few years after I graduated to fish for Kings only to find the indians had gill netted most of the bay. I never caught a fish in two days. I just hope the same thing has not happened to the smelt. Thanks for any info. you might be able to give- Tubes

[AceMcbanon]

Not like they use to, if you hit the right night mabye

[Luv2hunteup]

It's been a while since we've had any good runs of smelt into any of the creeks the empty into St. Martins Bay. These sure ain't the good ole days of dipping smelt. The time frame is still early May most years.

[Tubes77]

Thanks for the info. I guess my buddies will still think I'm lying;) I remeber filling 5 gal. buckets in a matter of minutes, but that was a long time ago. I also want to get back up to the Soo for the pinks again some day. They were a ton of fun. The other fishing we did up there that was amazing was fishing for perch & pike just after ice out. I think they were called the "dykes". I remember parking near a boat launch, then walking quite a ways out onto these raised "berms". We caught jumbo perch on one side and a pike almost every cast on the inside. I really enjoyed going to school up there. If there were any jobs, I'd probably still live up there! Thanks for the info guys, Tubes

[yooper357]

sorry tubes the smelt are about gone ive been dippin at the carp for 15 years now and the best run i can remember was.... well 15 years ago it went down hill i try to get up on to superior and dip the small creeks past baymills.

as for the pinks we did really good last year by the valley camp and in the boat by the govt. power house good luck

[Ogre]

I was at the mouth of the Carp about three years ago on a Monday morning. The volunteer fire department had just arrived. It seemed that some down state smelt dippers had crossed the river (not that deep) and partied. Then they simply walked away form their fire which had caught the surrounding area on fire. The marsh/ woods/peat area on the east side of the river across from the public access site at the river mouth was matted down from the retreating snow and a large sensitive area could have been ruined without the timely intervention of the local fire brigade. There were beer cans and broken glass everywhere. I must say that it was not a pretty sight that our Michigan Sportsmen left for others to deal with.

There are not the smelt runs today that we remember from the past but the slobs that seem to be associated with smelt dipping are still around. I don't know why smelt dipping became associated with binge drinking but it did and what a shame.

[Tubes77]

Wow that is a shame! I remember how much they had improved that area of the river the last time I was there. They had added the handicap pier and really made the area more accessible. Had there been any salmon, I would have been back! I have since moved to Illinois and when they dip smelt, they gauge how good a night it was by the number of smelt caught. I kinda laugh when I hear "we got 53 tonight", but it's the best this part of Lake Michigan has to offer. I guess even up there the days of measuring them by the buckets has passed. Oh well, looks like I'll have to make it up there this fall for the pinks. At least I can take some buddies to "Antlers" and prove that whole story wasn't BS. Please tell me Antler's at least is still there...

[Luv2hunteup]

At least I can take some buddies to "Antlers" and prove that whole story wasn't BS. Please tell me Antler's at least is still there...

Last time I was in that part of town it was still there. BTW they added a 2 headed calf a few years back.

[Tubes77]

Two headed calf? That's worth the trip up there by itself:) Love those Paul Bunyon burgers and right across the street from some great pink fishing. That's it, I'm forgetting the whole smelt thing and planning on a trip for pinks come September. Thanks guys!

[Whit1]

"The Antlers"...............now there's a blast from the past!!!!! Great place, great steaks as well. Yes, I believe it's still there.

[2tundras]

Strange question,were you ever nincknamed Flipper at a contstruciton site, and thrown in to the Carp one night, if not forget it.

Anyway.
My buddies set a cotton mesh off the mouth of the Carp just to see if the smelt were there, they were. Same for the Pine, Nun's, Half-a-day, and a bunch of others. Smelt have been spawing quite a bit off the mouths, simply not heading into the rivers. We waded out last year and ran into a couple of schools. But over all, bring lots of beer, cause your gonna get bored.

The rivers west of Brimley were good last year though, just like the old days

[tedshunter]

Since someone mentioned eateries,has anyone been to the Dog Patch in Munising?Great food no doubt!:D

[Garret]

Love the Dog Patch! We go there every time we visit the Munising area. Good breakfast as well!

Anyone been to Syl's in Ontonagon? Hot pasties and meatloaf dinner are a couple of my favorites! I’ve been going there since i was knee high to a grasshopper. The Shamrock and Stub’s Bar for some wobble pops after dinner is a must. Lot’s to look at on the walls at Stub’s.

[tedshunter]

Next time you are up that way check out the Chamberlin Inn in Curtis on the south side of Manistique Lk.Excellent food, I once got Planked Whitefish and my mouth is still watering from it:D

[snakebit67]

just got done eating planked whitefish (by planked im thinking you mean on a cedar shake). Westborn market had whitefish on sale.

[redneckdan]

how good is planked whitefish? I'm lookin at a recipe for it and I'm wondering how it tastes? where do you find unmolsted cedar shakes ie "non-pressure treated"? can you cook other fish this way?

[Tubes77]

2tundras- Sorry for the slow reply, I was offshore fishing in NC and just got back. No, my nickname wasn't ever flipper, but I did work some construcition sites later. Never got thrown into the Carp either, but came pretty close to falling in due to....um....;)