03-02-2004, 09:55 PM
Rainbow Smelt would be the bait fish of choice up here in Maine. Most streamer fly patterns are tied to resemble the smelt. The Landlocked Salmon and Brookies feed on the native smelt. There are lakes in the Western Mountains that you can only use dead bait. That is so the fisheries will not become polluted with bait fish other than the smelt that live here.
The smelts are "sewn" onto a large hook and then trolled behind the boats using either weighted lines or downriggers.
Trolling very, very slow usually catches fish. This is a favorite bait in August when the water warms up. In the Spring most troll the Smelt pattern flies.
The smelt that caught along the coast are much bigger. As big as 6 inches in length. Personally they are a little too fishy tasting to suit me.
The smelt run is on however and the ice shacks are all out full of men and women trying to catch the ocean smelt. Some for eatting and and some for freezing whole for bait later in the season.
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The smelts are "sewn" onto a large hook and then trolled behind the boats using either weighted lines or downriggers.
Trolling very, very slow usually catches fish. This is a favorite bait in August when the water warms up. In the Spring most troll the Smelt pattern flies.
The smelt that caught along the coast are much bigger. As big as 6 inches in length. Personally they are a little too fishy tasting to suit me.
The smelt run is on however and the ice shacks are all out full of men and women trying to catch the ocean smelt. Some for eatting and and some for freezing whole for bait later in the season.
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