smelt

Question
In your experience, what artificial bait best imitates the action of smelt?

Answer
Hi Luke,

I'm not a scuba diver so my best thing to observe fish is my Aqua view.  I am always surprised how little fish move when they swim.  Smelt are no exception. Those wild wiggling lures are far from realistic, but they do catch fish.  

We fish for trout during the smelt runs here on the Great Lakes.  Long slim silvery or white lures have always been the best.  The 4.25" Thunderstick, #13 Rapala, and #10 deep X-Rap are good.  Long spoons like Mepps Syclops, Krocodiles, and Kastmasters are good spoon choices.  Jigs are great because the imitate the action and can be fished near the bottom easily.  Four inch Gulp Minnows (pearl or watermelon pearl) on a darter head jig or Lunker City's 4" Fin-S-Fish (alewife, smelt, or Arkansas shiner) on a jig head are deadly.  The Lunker City 3.25" Shaker (same colors as above) is an excellent swim bait matched with a jig head.  I also love white marabou jigs.  Check out my blog on how to tie a Marc's Marabou Minnow. www.thelureofthefish.blogspot.com

Good luck.

Marc