Trolling report

[andrew9638]

Since the salmon seem to be eating smelt I want to try using smelt behind a flasher. Does anybody know which grocery stores sell the frozen smelt right now? I may try brining them to make them tougher and last longer. Anybody ever try smelt?

[GeorgianBay MessageBoard]

[MarkD]

Thanks, Tom!
I know, I'm probably asking very basic questions, but I'm still new to dowrigging and keep forgetting some stuff (far from young now)...

[Krawler]

Since the salmon seem to be eating smelt I want to try using smelt behind a flasher. Does anybody know which grocery stores sell the frozen smelt right now? I may try brining them to make them tougher and last longer. Anybody ever try smelt?

Try running anchovies. I’ve had great success with them on the bay.
They look relatively identical to smelt. A little bigger but the salmon don’t care.

[Canuck]

Since the salmon seem to be eating smelt I want to try using smelt behind a flasher. Does anybody know which grocery stores sell the frozen smelt right now? I may try brining them to make them tougher and last longer. Anybody ever try smelt?

I have tried store bought smelt but they fall apart.  I think they are too tender.  You can buy frozen anchovies and herring in the GTA but I am not sure about around here.  I have cut my own herring strip by buying frozen pacific herring from an asian food store in Mississauga.  I was going to see if the asian grocery store in Barrie near Crappy Tire sells them.  I tried mackerel and it was too mushy but it looks pretty!.  Herring or anchovy is what you need.

[buck]

I was in the “hole” for 3 hours this am...Friday....did not mark a thing....no bait notta...
Had one knockoff

......Tuesday ...same deal...lost one ...user error....Embarrassing

Temps good at 110 to 120 feet of cable....but fished higher Too....slower and faster....still notta

There were 6 more boats...anybody even see anything?

Buck

[Myles]

Fished yesterday late afternoon and early evening. Went 4 for 5. 3 salmon and a splake. Didn't even know there was any splake out there so it was definitly a surprise. Might sneak out for a few hours later today

[Myles]

Tried to upload a pic of the splake but says file too large. Anyone know how i can fix that so i can post it?

[Myles]

Pic

[Meegs]

That sir is no splake.   That’s a speck all day long and then some.   Look at the tail.   I’ve heard of them up to 4 lbs in these waters but never got one myself

[Myles]

Not as much color as specks I've caught before so i assumed that size would be splake. I knew for sure it wasn't a lake trout

[Krawler]

Nice fish Myles
I’ve heard of another like that caught in the area this year.
Did it fight like a laker or did it seem to have more energy?

[Myles]

My girlfriend brought it in we thought it was a laker till it got close to the boat and started doing some spins like a rainbow. It was mixed right in with the salmon we got so it was a surprise for sure

[andrew9638]

Wow Myles, that’s a nice catch something pretty rare indeed. Always fun fishing waters where you can get surprises like that.
I’m wanting to get out but these west winds are strong and not forecasted to let up until I’ve left for camping up north. It’s probably do able to launch out of penetang but I like being comfortable when I fish.

[John Kendell]

As Meegs said, that is a Brook Trout, aka Coaster Brook Trout.  The first I have seen from the bay but somewhat expected.  They tend to silver up like that in the lake and only take on the traditional colours during spawning.  Very cool catch.  I've even seen a couple running up the Credit R. through the fish ladder over the last few decades. 

[awbringl]

Since the salmon seem to be eating smelt I want to try using smelt behind a flasher. Does anybody know which grocery stores sell the frozen smelt right now? I may try brining them to make them tougher and last longer. Anybody ever try smelt?

Sorry to be negative - I've tried it.  Too mushy.  You would have to pull everything up and replace the smelt every 10 mins.  I've also tried whole sardines...a bit better. But similar results.