The lure of smelt By Steve Galea and Bernie Schnieders

Flashlight beams slice through the darkness, bounce off the river, and meld with soft moonlight. Laughter and good-natured joshing drown out the steady chorus of spring peepers. A tangible sense of anticipation, tied to an abiding faith that one of nature's nocturnal secrets is about to be revealed, grows along the muddy banks of a swollen flow. Typically, a small but lively crowd gathers and grows. Smelt netters are a social lot. Giggling wide-eyed children, bundled up against the cold, mill impatiently with parents who can barely contain their own excitement. They'll all stay up to experience a special night, and the memories of it will last a lifetime.

Here and there, the early birds test the waters, dipping long-handled nets against the currents and making lengthy sweeps in the back eddies. Suddenly, a glint of silver flickers against the fine mesh and then more. "Dig deep," they'll advise. "The smelt are in!"

Leaky waders and cold, wet hands are forgotten as dip nets heavy with sleek, shimmering fish are hauled up time and time again. The excitement builds and everyone falls into a rhythmic dance of dip, sweep, and dump. Soon 5-gallon pails hold enough smelt to grace dinner plates for a score or more of memorable feasts. Catches are compared proudly and theories shared. There's a joyous carnival atmosphere. If you've ever braved a brisk spring night and frigid waters to intercept a smelt run, you'll know what I mean. Call it a rite or a pleasant diversion, one thing's for sure - there's an unsaid assurance that winter is gone for good. Knowing this, smelt netters walk away from the water with their heads held high and smiles that light up the night.

When the buckets brim with smelt, so much the better. Hitting a smelt run at its peak is a tricky affair. In much of Ontario's traditional Great Lakes smelt waters, many of the once-famed runs are smaller in number. Some biologists theorize that zebra mussels, which filter out plankton that smelt rely on, are to blame. Others hint that increased numbers of trout, salmon, walleye, and other aquatic hunters have reduced their numbers. Yet, smelt-dipping opportunities still exist around the Great Lakes, if you don't mind working a little harder. Or check out inland lakes that hold smelt. Sometimes, if you hit it right, the smelt still surge in and the nets glimmer with silver. What follows is a list of popular smelting grounds and contacts for local expertise and smelt-run reports. Also, Conservation Officers at local Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) offices can often tell you when smelt are running in their waters.

The Great Lakes

Lake Ontario
The glory days when most flows into Lake Ontario ran silver with smelt each spring and nets filled to bursting are gone and interest in smelt dipping has waned in many traditional areas, such as public piers and beaches from Toronto and east past Oshawa. As well, these days most of the lake's rivers are off-limits to netters because rainbow trout are also spawning. A few smelt runs, however, are still targeted at rivermouths and other areas.

For example, creekmouths, points, and beaches on the west side of Prince Edward County still offer sporadic action. Sandbanks Provincial Parks, near Picton, is easily accessed and local smelt netters fish off the west point. For more info call park superintendent Don Bucholz at 613-393-3319. Shawn Price of Pro Gear in Hamilton says dip netters still do well under the Burlington-Hamilton Lift Bridge, which can be reached off Beach Boulevard. For more details call 905-575-1338.

Farther west, Conservation Officer Bob Preshaw in Vineland says the lower Niagara River at the Queenston Docks is a hotspot, albeit crowded at times. Last year's smelt catch was impressive, he added. An inlet at Port Dalhousie at the end of Lakeport Road is less popular, but also productive. For more information on where smelt are running in Lake Ontario, call George or Tom at Angling Specialties in Scarborough at 416-609-0804.
- Steve Galea

Lake Erie
John Cooper of the MNR's Lake Erie Management Unit says the lake's once-famed smelt runs are also erratic now. Increased predation and a possible change from stream to shoal spawning are cited as factors. Extensive commercial fishing has also lowered smelt numbers. Local angling shops confirm that few people bother with smelt dipping on Erie now, yet reports of a spectacular smelt bonanza last year on beaches and at creekmouths west of Port Burwell might be good news for smelters this spring. Call Malcolm at Chappy's Fish and Tackle Shop in Port Burwell at 519-874-4129 for more info on when the smelt are in.
- Steve Galea

Lake Huron
Ted Wilford of Outback Tackle in Wiarton says last year's smelt runs on either side of the Bruce Peninsula were the best he's seen in 8 or 9 years. "You're not going to fill a pickup, but a couple of shopping bags isn't out of the question," he said. Colpoys Bay at Wiarton is a good starting point. The Blue Water and Government Docks are open to fishing.

Similarly, the mouth of the Sauble River and, generally, the east coast of Huron from Southampton to Stokes Bay also kept dip netters busy last spring. For more info call Outback Tackle at 519-534-2803. Farther south on Lake Huron, piers and beaches at Goderich, Bayfield, and Grand Bend draw smelt netters. St. Joseph, a small community at County Rd. 84 and Hwy. 21, provides fair smelt fishing around the public boat launch and beach too. Call Doug Steinman at Heron's Sport Shop in Kippen at 519-263-2141 or Goderich Live Bait and Tackle at 519-524-7910 for local reports.
- Steve Galea

Georgian Bay
Tony Agnello at The Diver's Nook in Parry Sound says last year's smelt run in the Seguin River in town was a patchy affair. And while some local anglers took advantage of it and one at Byng Inlet to the north, more smelters headed to Magnetawan for its more concentrated and consistent run.

Agnello and local MNR staffers also tell of small inland runs at Star and Oastler Lakes. "They're short one- or two-day events, generally a precursor to those out on the bay," said Agnello. "You've got to hit them dead on." For more information call 705-746-9757 or e-mail him via www.diversnook.com The Magnetawan River below the bridge in Magnetawan has one of central Ontario's better smelt runs. Last year, we filled a big cooler in a few hours. Even so, residents were disappointed with overall numbers. Ken Turner of Woodland Echoes Resort in Magnetawan said, "Generally, the run here is so good that it provides smelt for the Annual Lion's club smelt fry, which feeds about 200 people. Last year, we fell just short of that."

Turner, whose resort is on Ahmic Lake, said, "One neat trick for lake fishermen is to run an outboard motor off of the dock to create a current. Smelt actually come into this." For more info on Ahmic Lake or the Magnetawan River smelt run e-mail Turner at info@woodlandechoes.on.ca
- Steve Galea

The North Channel
Manitoulin Island has always been popular with smelters. The Kagawong River at Mudge Bay near Kagawong has productive runs and public parking nearby. For more information on this and other Manitoulin smelt runs call Blaine Williamson at The Up Top Sports Store in Mindemoya at 705-377-5748. On the north shore, Lauzon Creek at Algoma Mills looked good last year. Don Udell of U-rentals and Services in Blind River said, "Last year was really decent. The run was fast and furious for about 10 days." Udell can be reached at 705-356-2767. He reminds smelt netters that they must fish below the bridge and respect private property. He also recommends the Blind River in town. Access is behind the public school and on nearby town property.

Staff at Iron Bridge's Village General Store monitor the progress of these runs, as well as those in the Spanish River and several lesser creeks. Call them at 705-843-1100 for info.
- Steve Galea

Lake Superior
Numerous locations along Lake Superior have smelt runs. Starting at Thunder Bay, there's McVicars Creek, which is accessible at the mouth from Marina Park Dr. at the waterfront. At the harbour, netters huddle along its rocky banks to dip smelt. At the Current River, accessible from Cumberland St. and Fisherman's Rd., there are several piers and a rip-rap shoreline to net from. For local smelt information or equipment, call D&R Sporting Goods at 1-888-345-1511.

The mouth of the MacKenzie River, 14 miles east of Thunder Bay, is another consistent smelt producer. It's accessible from the MacKenzie Beach Rd. A small trail just south of the railway tracks leads to the rivermouth.

Kama Creek, about 12 miles east of Nipigon, also gets good smelt runs. It's accessible by foot trails and a gravel road off Hwy. 17. The Little Gravel is also a consistent producer, right under the highway bridge to the mouth. For a smelt report contact Ray Laukkanen at Gravel River Resort (807-887-1842). Closer to Schreiber, McLeans Creek, Whitesands River, and the tailrace of the Aguassabon hydro plant have smelt runs.

Towards Marathon, a foot trail from Hwy. 17 and a bush road/snowmobile trail leads to McKellar Creek, where smelting is popular. In Marathon, the Marathon Pulp Inc. road leads to Cummings Beach and a small creek that has intermittent smelt runs.

In the Wawa area, the Michipicoten River hosts smelt runs, but it's big and hard to fish. Small flows, such as Wawa Creek, are more popular for smelting. Heading south from Wawa, the Old Woman and Agawa Rivers and Speckled Trout Creek have had spotty smelt runs over the past two decades, but are easily accessible from Hwy. 17 to check them out and by trails leading to their mouths. For information on area smelt runs and equipment, contact Young's General Store at 705-856-2626 in Wawa.

Closer to Sault Ste. Marie, Jones Creek, Harmony River, Stokely Creek, and Chippewa River are all accessible for smelt fishing from Hwy. 17 and by foot trails and bush roads. For info on smelt runs in the Sault area, call the Trading Post at 705-759-4518
- Bernie Schnieders

Inland Waters Lake Nipigon
Smelt were first noted in Lake Nipigon in 1976 and have been running into tributaries for the past decade. In fact, their numbers are high enough that commercial fishing for smelt takes place on several rivers. Smelt dipping is accessible to the public along Hwy. 11 from Orient Bay north to Beardmore. Gorge Creek, Blacksand Creek, and the Postagoni River are also accessible from Hwy. 11, and the Sand River is accessible via Hwy. 580 near Poplar Park. Other rivers such as the Onaman, Posh, Mud, and Whitesand also host smelt runs. For information on when they're in and fishing equipment, contact the Hook Shop (807-875-2647) in Beardmore.
- Bernie Schnieders

Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe's once huge spring smelt fishery has dwindled, but still attracts die-hards. Wil Wegman from MNR's Aurora office advises that most smelt netting now takes place on the northwest shore near Orillia along the 8th and 9th Lines of Oro Township, although a few smelters test the waters from Sutton to Lagoon City, as well. Fishing is mainly off docks and beaches. With much of Simcoe's shores privately owned, Wegman advises not to trespass. Stick to public beaches and piers. For more info on timing of Simcoe's smelt runs, call Trombly's Tackle Box in Orillia at 705-327-3474 or George or Tom at Angling Specialties in Scarborough at 416-609-0804.
- Steve Galea

Highway 11 corridor
Lake Muskoka and its tributaries have decent smelt activity. The Indian River has a good run. Public access is off Bailey St. in Port Carling. Sucker Creek at Hwy. 169 and off Peninsula Rd. near Rosseau is also a hotspot, as is Milford Bay. Smelt netters park at a rest stop off Hwy. 118, east of Port Carling, and then fish nearby beaches and feeder creeks. For more information call John Chapman at Bait on the Lake at 705-765-7100.

Farther north, Lake Bernard near Sundridge has good runs of decent-size smelt, says Bill Eden at Lake Bernard Bait and Outfitters. So too does the culvert between Pool Lake and Lake Bernard. Eden says, "Smelters should drive around Lake Bernard on Lakeshore Rd. Shine a flashlight into every small creek you cross. If the smelt are in, you can get them right off the road allowance." For more information call Sue or Bill Eden at 705-384-7948.

Eagle Lake near South River also hosts a good run. Local netters do well at the narrows under the bridge at Eagle Lake. Take Eagle Lake Road off Hwy. 11 to get there. Similarly, a culvert feeding into the lake has a reliable run. Take Eagle Lake Rd. to Quirt Rd. and follow it. This local hotspot is across from the Eagle Lake Golf and Country Club, just out of South River. For more information call Fred DiSomma at Eagle Lake Narrows Country Store at 705-386-0056.
- Steve Galea

Highway 35 corridor
This area's myriad lake trout lakes have several sleeper smelt runs. Jack Saunders of Minden Live Bait and Tackle says the runs are quick, but the fish are plentiful. He reports that Moore's Falls has fine opportunities for big smelt right off Hwy. 35 on the Moore Lake side.

Farther along near Norland, where County Rd. 45 passes over the culvert at Buller Rd., there are additional prospects. Add to that a smelt run where Hwy. 35 passes over the Beech River near Boshkung and opportunities at a couple of easily accessed locations at Kushog Lake, particularly at Camp Kandalore and also at Ox Narrows where the highway crosses the lake. To get to the Camp Kandalore run turn west at the Camp sign and then make the first right. Park on the roadside and walk to the nearby creek. Locals rank this as one of the better runs. For more information call Jack Saunders or Bill Findlay at Minden Live Bait and Tackle at 705-286-4826.
- Steve Galea

Others
Bark Lake near Madawaska has a little-known run. Take Hwy. 62 to Madawaska Rd. and follow it to the dam at Bark Lake and the Madawaska River. Brian Vardy of J and B Hunting and Fishing Supply in Bancroft says a few local netters did well there last year. Similarly, Green and Cross Creeks on the west side of the lake are easily accessed from Hwy. 523, just south of Madawaska. For more info call Vardy at 613-332-6006. Skootamatta Lake near Cloyne also had good smelt runs in the last couple of years. Most are caught along sand beaches and near two public boat launches, accessed from Hwy. 41 by turning onto Sheldrake Lake Rd. Either follow it to the boat launch at the causeway or turn onto Trails End Rd. to the public launch at Old Marina. Bob Yearwood of Bishop Lake Outdoors Center also notes that the island opposite the causeway boat launch attracts lots of smelt and is a local hotspot. For more info call 613-336-2311.

Just north of Kingston near Syndenham, creeks feeding into Loughborough Lake, particularly Mundell's Creek and others on the west side, are known for decent smelt runs. For info, call Mark Alton at Boundary Bait and Bow in Syndenham, 613-376-3717.
- Steve Galea