Thread: Ice fishing ‘25

I fish at night so before I head home I pack them in snow or if there’s no snow I use my auger to make shaved ice. That keeps them from freezing solid in my garage overnight. They are easy to clean, I use a small fillet knife to slit the bellies and cut behind the head, but only thru the spine, then pull off the head and most everything comes with it. Some people use scissors but I prefer a knife.

I put snow in the bowl with the cleaned smelt as I go. When I’m done I wash the bucket and dump the smelt and snow back into it, add some water and swirl it around awhile, take out the melt, dump the water and usually another quick rinse in cold water and thats it.

I stink at posting pictures here!

I like them fried, I put some flour in a bag with salt, pepper and Old Bay. Throw in 10 or so smelt to coat them and fry them for 5 minutes or so at 350 degrees. You can eat the whole thing when they’re small, the bones disappear.

Those look tasty!

"Glad I'm not the only one having trouble finding crappie this ice season." I think he meant he felt bad that you were having a hard time also. HAHAHA

I went out yesterday afternoon for a few hours and stayed until 7:30 or so. No crappie which was disappointing but I caught a half dozen big perch and 3 rainbows. Lost 3 other rainbows trying to get them headed into the hole.

Good score! Glad you made it out and that's a good meal or 2 for your efforts. 870 and I, we didn't make out so well yesterday, ended up with a single perch each for a 3 hour effort. His was a whopper like your picture above, mine was average.

Smelt fishing is still great, still having very little luck with the crappie. Planning to go out again in the next few days.