# Smelt Fishing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2002, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310 "2002-03-14T17:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SBORTOLO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@SBORTOLO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SBORTOLO)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/1 "2002-03-14T17:47:29Z")
I currently fish for smelt around this time of year in Cayuga Lake in New York. Anyone know where the best spots to smelt in the lake are and when the smelt start running? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/2 "2002-03-14T22:14:23Z")
I saw smelt at a fish store in Washington. I’ve always thought of smelt as bait. How do you cook it? What does it taste like? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/3 "2002-03-14T22:22:44Z")
They fish (actually, dip-net) for smelt in Minnesota in the tributaries along Lake Superior, too. They usually show clips on the news of the “action.” I haven’t seen 'em yet this year. Helluva excuse for getting your drunk on, though: Standing in freezing water, at night, often during a snow squall, with a nice breeze off Lake Superior at your back. I’ll give you a smelt catching tip, too. If you yell “Ki-Yi-Yoopie! Ki-Yi-Yoopie!” every few minutes you’ll catch more smelt. It’s true. Try it. There’s a scientific reason behind it, too. Y’see, if you’re yelling “Ki-Yi-Yoopie! Ki-Yi-Yoopie!”, then you won’t have anyone near you scooping up your smelt. (A fella from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan taught me that, hence the particular call.) ---
**Author:** ![tisiphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tisiphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tisiphone)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/4 "2002-03-15T00:51:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*I saw smelt at a fish store in Washington. I’ve always thought of smelt as bait. How do you cook it? What does it taste like? \*\* Mom says that 'round about where she grew up (Bellingham, WA), they were cooked like french fries. Dunno what they taste like, never had 'em. ---
**Author:** ![SBORTOLO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@SBORTOLO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SBORTOLO)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/5 "2002-03-15T12:48:57Z")
They taste like fish but you deep fry them with flour and a little salt to taste. I’m in NY and my family has been doing this for years. I need some place in Ny on Cayuga Lake to go for them and spots are limited and privately owned. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/6 "2002-03-15T13:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > They taste like fish… What I meant was, do they taste like anchovies? Herring? Sardines? Cod? Halibut? On a related note, does anyone know what grunion taste like? ---
**Author:** ![SBORTOLO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@SBORTOLO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SBORTOLO)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelt-fishing/98310/7 "2002-03-15T14:33:03Z")
They taste like fish but a light fluffy fish. not a sardine or anchovie. Perch is a good comparison. Fresher the better though. dont buy those frozen ones . I had those and they are terrible.