Lake Michigan Smelt Fishing
photo
by S. Robillard 2002
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) are a naturalized exotic
in Lake Michigan. Originally transported from the east coast and stocked
in Crystal Lake, Michigan, smelt were first reported in Lake Michigan
in 1923. The smelt population expanded and reached high levels by the
early 1940s.
Smelt begin spawning in Lake Michigan as early as March 17 or as
late as April 28. The peak of the run, and the best fishing, lasts
about a week, usually starting between April 10 and 20. Regulations
for smelt fishing apply to the type of equipment used; there are
not bag limit or length restrictions. The smelt fishing season is
March 1 through April 30.
An Illinois sport fishing license is required to fish for smelt.
The best places to fish for smelt are along the Chicago Park District
property and at beaches from Waukegan to the Illinois-Wisconsin
state line.
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Smelt Fishing Gear
A gill net made of nylon thread is the most common type of gear
used in Illinois. Threads are from ½ to ¾ inch apart
in a crisscross manner and legally must not exceed 1 ½ inches
diagonal stretch. There are floats on the top line and lead weights
on the bottom line. the net forms a fence-like obstruction in the
water and when smelt try to swim through, they become entangled.
Some special equipment is required to maneuver the net in and out
of the water. A one to two pound anchor, which has flexible wire
extensions that grab the bottom, is attached to a heavy line and
thrown our 50 to 100 feet from shore. This line is pulled as tight
as possible, without loosening the anchor, and then tied to a pole,
pier railing, or other stationary object. A line of about 25 feet
is fastened to the back of the net and the other end of this line
is secured to the shore. A trolley, which is a one half to one pound
weight suspended below two wheels, is tied to the forward end of
the net and then attached t the anchor line. The bet line is used
to pull in the net and the trolley rides up the anchor line. Most
fishermen raise their nets every 5 to 10 minutes. Gill nets up to
12 feet long and 6 feet deep may be used legally, and an angler
is limited to one smelt fishing device at any one time.
A large dip net or boom net, up to 12 feet in diameter, is another
smelt fishing device. Mesh size may not be less than one inch diagonal
stretch. It is suspended from the top of a portable boom which is
tilted to hang over the water. The net is lowered into and raised
out of the water by a rope or cable attached to a winch. Smelt are
removed by a long-handled scoop.
A seine is still another type of gear used for smelt fishing. It
is used on the beaches and is pulled through the water by two persons
who usually wear waders or hip boots. When smelt are running heavy,
one seine haul will provide enough fish to fill a minnow bucket.
the mesh of a seine is made of nylon, either woven or knotted, and
is 1/8 or ¼ inch square. A legal smelt seine may not exceed
12 ft in length and 6 ft in depth and may not have mesh greater
than 1 ½ inches diagonal mesh stretch. All fish other than
smelt taken in smelt fishing devices must be immediately returned
to the water.
