Jigging Ice Fishing Tips for Smelt

Smelts are a popular fish among anglers in northern freshwater lakes and streams. Traveling in large schools, smelts are traditionally caught with nets when they spawn in the spring. They can also be caught using jigging techniques while ice fishing. A small fish, seven to nine inches long and weighing about three ounces, smelts can be caught in large numbers, and they are tasty when fried or grilled.

• Use an ice shack when fishing during the day. Smelts seem to prefer darkness, and the shack will keep the sun away from your hole in the ice.


• Use the correct hook and line, or rig, combination. Use small hooks (sizes 10 to 16) because smelts have small mouths. Smelts will also be attracted to colored or silvery jigs. Always use the thinnest fishing line possible so fish can’t see it.


• Tie multiple hook lines on your rig to take advantage of the schooling nature of smelts. Check state fishing laws for the maximum number of hooks allowed on a line.


• Use a weighted sinker to reach the dark, deep depths that smelts are usually found at.


• Add a food attractant around your hole in the ice, called chumming. Use protein-rich foods such as canned cat food, cut bait or egg shells to attract the smelts.


• Use glow-in-the-dark jigs. The smelts seem to be attracted to the odd light from glow-in-the-dark jigs.


• Use iodine on your jigs. The iodine smells like the natural food that smelts feed on in the ocean.


• Use a hand rig. Holding a line in your hand will allow you to feel the subtle tug of smelts better than a pole and reel.


• Use the free-fall technique repeatedly. After your line is where the fish are, jerk it up one to two feet and allow the rig to free-fall back to the original position. This moment when the jigs are falling through the water is when most fish will hit.