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Smelt

Introduction

'Smelt' describes several species of fish of the family Osmeridae of the northern hemisphere, characterized by the presence of a small adipose fin on the dorsal surface of the body, and by rather large, loose scales. Although generally only 5-8 inches in length, smelt are used extensively as food.

Originally introduced into Michigan's inland waters as food for stocked salmon in the 1900's, the smelt population quickly expanded into the Great Lakes. Systematic harvesting of smelt began in 1952, when dip-netting and seining in spring spawning streams became a popular harvesting technique.

Behaviour

In the streams, rainbow smelt shimmer in the light. Removed from the water, they quickly fade to a lifeless silvery white and smell of freshly cut cucumbers. Sensitive to bright lights and warm temperatures, they are usually found in dark, cool depths offshore. Smelt are carnivorous fish, feeding in schools in both the coastal and central regions of a lake. Rainbow smelt feed on mysis, a freshwater shrimp, small crustaceans, small fish and the eggs of other fish.

Smelt are an important fish, not only because of their ice-fishing popularity, but also because smelt are food for larger prey fish. Smelt are processed for animal and feeds and for human consumption. Countries such as Japan are interested in importing smelt meat and roe. Unfortunately, smelt populations fell sharply in the early 1980s and the outlook for them is not clear.

Winter Fishing Techniques

Smelt are fished openly on most Eastern Canadian rivers during the winter when the lake has frozen sufficiently to support small fish huts. Smelt ice-fishing begins in early January and usually peaks during the middle weeks of February. Most smelt fishing is done from ice shanties. Use a small sliver of flesh and skin sliced from the side of a smelt, then jig the bait near the bottom using a monofilament handline and a small hook proceeded by a weighted flasher.

When the fish are running well, anglers using only one hook on a line can easily collect anywhere between 70 and 150 smelt in a day's fishing. Smelt are also the preferred bait when ice fishing for lake trout.

The removal of these numbers of smelt does not seem to decimate their lake populations.

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Freshwater Fish Species

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