WOW! You guys crushed it! I remember back in the 70's when everyone was pulling in massive hauls and filling garbage cans at Pt. Peele. Those were the days. An old timer I used to work with never even bothered to bring any gear. He would just go down to the beach with his bucket and ask if anyone would like to fill his bucket for him, and everyone there would be happy to do it!
@@outdoorkruse - Unfortunately, we no longer have a smelt run here. You would be lucky to get a half bucket while pulling an all nighter. I remember the campfires on the beach and the party like atmosphere. Those were wonderful times.
Brings back memories all right. I wish I would have known about that back saving rope back in the day! That's a great idea. I grew up on Lake Michigan and a proper smelt party would feature a pony barrel in the yard. I usually got cleaning duty. There would be a Sheepsaid card game after smelting and that would sometimes go on until first light. Good times!
I did this woth my dad when i was little. He passed away many years ago. I cant wait to do this with my son. Its been a really long time since i did this and always wanted to do it again. Hopefully when my little one gets older. It was somenof the beat smelt ive ever had.
While fishing for steelhead I was kept awake many a night listening to "We are rejoicing, bringing in the Smelt" being sung at the top of their voices.
I used to dig a small pit and line it with plastic on the beach . Creating a small pond .That will clean off the smelt in the pond and with a 10 inch round bait net with a 3 foot pole and no bending over to collect the fish in the pond. You just go out in the water bring in the net . Dump the smelt in the pond and two people on shore catch them up and into a cooler. Awesome stuff guys .
Awesome catching them, takes forever to clean them🤣 I miss that growing up in MI, we use to run over to Au Gres every Spring to catch a few. Never hear of anybody doing it anymore, good to see some people still enjoying it.
I’m 75, when I was a kid, we lived in Conneaut Ohio, we would go smelting every year! There was a creek that ran into Lake Erie, I think it was called Turkey creek, we dip netted, and if it was a good run, we might get 2 or 3 five gallon buckets, good times!
those were the days we followed all the spawning runs, once from returning from fishing for walleye on a river out of lake Winnebego Wisconsin known for its sturgeon tons of people lined a narrow creek, I went to check it out and they were pulling in nice yellow perch .We had white bass runs too where you could bring home a garbage can full. good smoked. Hand catching suckers was simply primitive.poor computer generation. return to nature.
I was stationed at Duluth international airport from 72-76 we loved the smelt run, no limit,we used to fill garbage cans full. Drank beer smoked dubes had a great time. Those days are gone now. My grandkids won't see what I did but I guess that's the way it goes. I wonder if they still bite the head off the first smelt they catch , probably not because they're a bunch of pussies now.😂😂😂
I agree with everyone else that it brings back memories. My parents would come home from work and load up the car and go to pt. peele. We would go to either side of the point go into the park to fish Just outside of the park there was a little dam along side of the road that's where we would fish mostly. There was a little place called three sisters store/ snack bar across the road from there. Also an ice cream place before that. Where the women's restroom was at.
I remember back when you could have camp fires. It was so much fun. Now it's all about rules and the government telling you NO. bring back the "good ol days"
Used to go smelting on the creeks running into Seneca Lake in ny many years ago, was great times. Unfortunately no smelt in that or any of the finger lakes any longer. Old timers say the zebra mussels killed off the smelt……
Smelting in the 70’s: 99 cent six packs of Hamns, setting the river banks on fire, and finding your smelt net on roof of your car the next morning after driving ten miles home the night before. Good times!
Exactly! I gift out 6-8 gallons. I personally do a smelt fry at our seasonal campground. But... I will with hopes be doing a cleaing/cooking video tonight! Love the little bastards!
I'd go to Duluth with my Dad in the seventies. He was a musher back then and always looking for good cheap dog food. He smoked the fish and it was candy for the dogs some he would smoke and then dry in the sun for the family. A pocket full of smelt to eat in school. Smelled so good. We would get about 200 gallons every trip . Not sure how he did it but we always made a big haul. He and Mom would sit out on the lawn with scissors and clean fish while we went to school. Those were great times. I never went in the water like dad did I just stand on a gravel bar and scoop in the water and sometimes you had to dump off some fish or break the handle on the net cause it was so full. Great fishing, Great times, Great memories
@@Barnfind. Thanks for sharing this! Family history is the basis of every story. Not sure you were charming the girls with a pocket full of smelt in school, ha!
Don't bend over to pick up your cigarettes like my dad did 😂 it took a while for his brother and friends to get him out. ( they had all been waiting for the fish and having one or maybe 2 drinks 😢 ) almost lost my dad over smelt. Don't smoke and fish for smelt in Duluth.😅
Purposely introduced species can absolutely be classified as invasive. Common carp were introduced on purpose in the 1800s, now they are one of the worst invasives.
They would bring back so much smelt you got tired of looking at them let alone trying to clean them. Used garbage cans, buckets. You probably couldn't do any of this nowadays let alone crossing the border.
They are absolutely not invasive. They were purposely introduced, just like rainbow, browns, cohos, and chinook. If you were waiting for this, you knew in the back of your mind that what you were doing is wrong.
They were brought from Maine on purpose around WW1. Do my research? I know where they came from, I told you twice. You and your Robin Hood giving to the poor BS excuse is the reason Michigan put a 2 gallon limit on smelt several years ago. I'm not going to listen to what the Minn DNR says, they only care about the inland water in your state. They planted cohos less than five years, opposed to Michigan planting them in Superior for 40. If it's not a muskie or walleye, Minn Dnr could give a rip less. It's fish hog slobs like yourselves that screw up the forage base for sportsman in the two other States and one Provence.
Rainbow smelt are native to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s very possible they invaded the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal, which was built to allow ocean-going ships to pass between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and then the rest of the Great Lakes. Lots of critters entered the GL’s thru the Welland Canal including the sea lamprey.
@@cohoanglervancouverwa6755 Here's a paper to look at. I can't put in a link because it will get deleted. From The Canadian Field-Naturalist 1944, by JR Dymond "Spread of the smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. Page 8 of this years Minnesota Fishing regulations only lists Ruffe, round goby, bighead, and silver carp as invasive. The content creator is just using the invasive argument as an excuse to justify his behavior. I don't think if he had one wish to make smelt disappear from the Midwest completely he would take it. I bet he would for the species Minnesota lists as invasive. I stand by my guns, 26 gallons is gross overharvest.
@@webb-cast1030I agree that the amount harvested seems really excessive and perhaps wasteful. But I was only commenting on the origin of rainbow smelt in the GL’s, not on the ethics of harvesting an invasive species to excess.
WOW!
You guys crushed it! I remember back in the 70's when everyone was pulling in massive hauls and filling garbage cans at Pt. Peele. Those were the days. An old timer I used to work with never even bothered to bring any gear. He would just go down to the beach with his bucket and ask if anyone would like to fill his bucket for him, and everyone there would be happy to do it!
It really depends on the night but I bet he could do the same thing! Great memories!
@@outdoorkruse - Unfortunately, we no longer have a smelt run here. You would be lucky to get a half bucket while pulling an all nighter. I remember the campfires on the beach and the party like atmosphere. Those were wonderful times.
@@justadbeer that sucks!
Yep, Pt. Pelee was the spot back then. Good times.
Yes, remember smelt runs in Racine, WI back in the 70's. Fun along the beach/docks.
But alas, no more smelt here.
Brings back memories from the 70s when one net pull would have so many smelt you'd need two guys pulling each end love that rope trick
I am old and retired now, but I remember Duluth area 50 years ago when I lived in Minnesota. Many good time with my buddies
Tradition
Brings back memories all right. I wish I would have known about that back saving rope back in the day! That's a great idea. I grew up on Lake Michigan and a proper smelt party would feature a pony barrel in the yard. I usually got cleaning duty. There would be a Sheepsaid card game after smelting and that would sometimes go on until first light. Good times!
Ahhh the memories!
I did this woth my dad when i was little. He passed away many years ago. I cant wait to do this with my son. Its been a really long time since i did this and always wanted to do it again. Hopefully when my little one gets older. It was somenof the beat smelt ive ever had.
Did this in the 80’s on lake michigan as a kid. Would love to do it again
While fishing for steelhead I was kept awake many a night listening to "We are rejoicing, bringing in the Smelt" being sung at the top of their voices.
Delicious and great fun netting. I have cleaned many 100 quart coolers full. Best eating ever. Love them smelt.
Looking good, bring back the days when me and my buddy went to gooseberry falls to smelt we had a blast each time and had some good eating back then.
I used to dig a small pit and line it with plastic on the beach . Creating a small pond .That will clean off the smelt in the pond and with a 10 inch round bait net with a 3 foot pole and no bending over to collect the fish in the pond. You just go out in the water bring in the net . Dump the smelt in the pond and two people on shore catch them up and into a cooler. Awesome stuff guys .
Great idea!
I remember dipping smelt in lake Huron near Saginaw Bay in the early 1970 when a 5gallon bucket was filled up in couple minutes.
great memories!
Awesome catching them, takes forever to clean them🤣 I miss that growing up in MI, we use to run over to Au Gres every Spring to catch a few. Never hear of anybody doing it anymore, good to see some people still enjoying it.
Thanks 👍
Singing bridge!
Clean them?
I’m 75, when I was a kid, we lived in Conneaut Ohio, we would go smelting every year! There was a creek that ran into Lake Erie, I think it was called Turkey creek, we dip netted, and if it was a good run, we might get 2 or 3 five gallon buckets, good times!
75, you are still young! Let’s go smelting!!!
those were the days we followed all the spawning runs, once from returning from fishing for walleye on a river out of lake Winnebego Wisconsin known for its sturgeon tons of people lined a narrow creek, I went to check it out and they were pulling in nice yellow perch .We had white bass runs too where you could bring home a garbage can full. good smoked. Hand catching suckers was simply primitive.poor computer generation. return to nature.
I was stationed at Duluth international airport from 72-76 we loved the smelt run, no limit,we used to fill garbage cans full. Drank beer smoked dubes had a great time. Those days are gone now. My grandkids won't see what I did but I guess that's the way it goes. I wonder if they still bite the head off the first smelt they catch , probably not because they're a bunch of pussies now.😂😂😂
Fryed Smelt and Cold Beer 🇺🇸
Hell yeah!!!
I agree with everyone else that it brings back memories.
My parents would come home from work and load up the car and go to pt. peele.
We would go to either side of the point go into the park to fish
Just outside of the park there was a little dam along side of the road that's where we would fish mostly. There was a little place called three sisters store/ snack bar across the road from there. Also an ice cream place before that. Where the women's restroom was at.
Good memories
They are good ones, since both parents are gone now. Even that way of life has changed
minnesota residents should go wolfing after smelting! betcha catch more wolves than smelt!
That would be tough!
never done this or even eaten smelt. Looks like a blast, how do prepare them....cook them etc etc
See the second video link at the end, I cook them.
I will do a cooking video this weekend
I remember back when you could have camp fires. It was so much fun. Now it's all about rules and the government telling you NO. bring back the "good ol days"
Not sure that’s going to happen but we will have the memories!
@@outdoorkruse We can make anything happen if we work together.
Well, that is outstanding, boys!
Used to go smelting on the creeks running into Seneca Lake in ny many years ago, was great times. Unfortunately no smelt in that or any of the finger lakes any longer. Old timers say the zebra mussels killed off the smelt……
That sucks
Smelting in the 70’s: 99 cent six packs of Hamns, setting the river banks on fire, and finding your smelt net on roof of your car the next morning after driving ten miles home the night before. Good times!
Things will happen
We used to that PTE Pelee Erie 1970's
Yes!!
He who smelt it, dealt it...
Hopefully you got your scissors sharp for all of those! Takes time but damn there good deep fried!
I was prepped!!!
Niiiiiice! What time of year is the best up there? Man alive I miss those days
It can start anytime mid to late april all the way to mid-may.
What do you Minneweigians do with all those smelt? Smelt fry vid coming?
Exactly! I gift out 6-8 gallons. I personally do a smelt fry at our seasonal campground. But... I will with hopes be doing a cleaing/cooking video tonight! Love the little bastards!
Awesome job!!
Thanks bud!
I'd go to Duluth with my Dad in the seventies. He was a musher back then and always looking for good cheap dog food. He smoked the fish and it was candy for the dogs some he would smoke and then dry in the sun for the family. A pocket full of smelt to eat in school. Smelled so good. We would get about 200 gallons every trip . Not sure how he did it but we always made a big haul. He and Mom would sit out on the lawn with scissors and clean fish while we went to school. Those were great times. I never went in the water like dad did I just stand on a gravel bar and scoop in the water and sometimes you had to dump off some fish or break the handle on the net cause it was so full. Great fishing, Great times, Great memories
@@Barnfind. Thanks for sharing this! Family history is the basis of every story. Not sure you were charming the girls with a pocket full of smelt in school, ha!
How long does smelt last in Duluth or what the next run
Temperature based. The run usually happens anywhere from mid April to early may and lasts a week, sometimes two.
@@outdoorkruse thank you have y’all ever try on September or like that
@@tongmoua7158they do not come that shallow in September. They are out in deeper waters.
Great vid!
Why no ski/skid on the bottom of the poles?
We just drag
It's hard to beat deep fried Smelt - Enjoy, - it's like eating candy.
What do Ya do with a SMELT?
Cut gut dip in batter and fry!
No smelt left in chicago😢
Sorry to hear, make a trip to Minnesota!
What’s your favorite smelt recipe
I do a catch and cook in the linked video
Heck yeah
How long u figure they gonna run. Ill come tomoro if u wanna sell me a ice cream pail full.
All of mine are gone or spoken for .
Don't bend over to pick up your cigarettes like my dad did 😂 it took a while for his brother and friends to get him out. ( they had all been waiting for the fish and having one or maybe 2 drinks 😢 ) almost lost my dad over smelt. Don't smoke and fish for smelt in Duluth.😅
Shit happens!
Delicious!
Purposely introduced species can absolutely be classified as invasive. Common carp were introduced on purpose in the 1800s, now they are one of the worst invasives.
Humans are introduced😅
They would bring back so much smelt you got tired of looking at them let alone trying to clean them.
Used garbage cans, buckets.
You probably couldn't do any of this nowadays let alone crossing the border.
There are still plenty that make some good coin selling every morning.
They didn't have any problems getting rid of them though. Friends, family and their coworkers would come by and pick up their fish.
Where's all the drunk high school kids?
Did any get away to live?
Plenty escape out the bottom or run from the net.
They’re an invasive species, why do you want them to live?
areeeeeppppppppppppppppaaaaahh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you guy's of Portuguese extraction?
Nope
How is that even legal?
Heritage
I’m surprised they allow fishing in Duluth. Minnesotas own slice of California. There’s a reason I don’t go there and spend zero money there.
They are absolutely not invasive. They were purposely introduced, just like rainbow, browns, cohos, and chinook. If you were waiting for this, you knew in the back of your mind that what you were doing is wrong.
Check the mn dnr website and do your research.
I just play by the rules.
Again, all was distributed and used.
They were brought from Maine on purpose around WW1. Do my research? I know where they came from, I told you twice. You and your Robin Hood giving to the poor BS excuse is the reason Michigan put a 2 gallon limit on smelt several years ago. I'm not going to listen to what the Minn DNR says, they only care about the inland water in your state. They planted cohos less than five years, opposed to Michigan planting them in Superior for 40. If it's not a muskie or walleye, Minn Dnr could give a rip less. It's fish hog slobs like yourselves that screw up the forage base for sportsman in the two other States and one Provence.
Rainbow smelt are native to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s very possible they invaded the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal, which was built to allow ocean-going ships to pass between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and then the rest of the Great Lakes. Lots of critters entered the GL’s thru the Welland Canal including the sea lamprey.
@@cohoanglervancouverwa6755 Here's a paper to look at. I can't put in a link because it will get deleted. From The Canadian Field-Naturalist 1944, by JR Dymond "Spread of the smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
Page 8 of this years Minnesota Fishing regulations only lists Ruffe, round goby, bighead, and silver carp as invasive.
The content creator is just using the invasive argument as an excuse to justify his behavior. I don't think if he had one wish to make smelt disappear from the Midwest completely he would take it. I bet he would for the species Minnesota lists as invasive.
I stand by my guns, 26 gallons is gross overharvest.
@@webb-cast1030I agree that the amount harvested seems really excessive and perhaps wasteful. But I was only commenting on the origin of rainbow smelt in the GL’s, not on the ethics of harvesting an invasive species to excess.
Ya really shouldn't post this, People always take more than they should
Nobody taking more than they can use in this video?
This was dispersed and used in 72 hours
Lake Superior has to be freezing!
Too bad, let’s say brisk!
@@outdoorkruse Do you guys just batter and fry, or actually debone?
@@thaibox78 We batter and fry
In my second video I go through the process. Its linked at the end of the video.
See other game fish eat smelt.. less smelt less game fish..simple as that.. that lake has a very fragile eco system why does DNR let people net😅😂
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