East Coast Trip - Pictures Added

Jeff - I wasn't able to get any bunny or partridge hunting in - I spent my time glassing, hunting and being a tourist. I was on Penobscot Bay my first few days, then drove the coast north till I found birds.

Kris - Yeah, I switched motors after a few days. It was 4 degrees F when I woke up one of the days and the 9.9 didn't want to start for me. I always brought 2 motors out with me so I took the 9.9 off and put the briggs on. I also carried a trolling motor after the 9.9 didn't want to start. Regarding mooring - I used the Marsh Rat (the small skiff pictured above) to get back and forth.

Finch - definitely no ice as of last week Wednesday. Not sure how it looks now.

Thanks for all the words Gents-

Paul & Can
 
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i guess i dont have to ask if there is enough ice for smelt fishing


Finch, I haven't been smelting yet, and the spot I scouted last weekend (see post below) is a popular smelting spot and no shacks were out as of last Sunday. That said, I bet at least some of the commercial outfits that rent shacks on Merrymeeting Bay are opened. A few of those guys even put some of their shacks on floats and run walkways out to them. Try calling the various camps--a map and contact info can be accessed here: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational/smeltcamps/index.htm
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[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] Forgive my ignorance but how do ice fish for smelt?[/font]

Usually with a great deal of alcohol, a bunch of food (franks and beans are popular), and a roaring woodstove to overheat the shack.

Late in the evening the fumes in the shack get thick enough to anesthetize any fish swimming near the surface, and they can be scooped up with a fine mesh dip net.

Or, less conventionally, bait a small hook on a fine line with a bit of sea worm or a small shrimp. Some folks will use a jigging stick; others will handline.
 

[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Forgive my ignorance but how do ice fish for smelt?[/font]

Usually with a great deal of alcohol, a bunch of food (franks and beans are popular), and a roaring woodstove to overheat the shack.

Late in the evening the fumes in the shack get thick enough to anesthetize any fish swimming near the surface, and they can be scooped up with a fine mesh dip net.
Click to expand...

LOL thats how used to do it in my younger days! Just never heard of doing it ice fishing. We would do the same thing (alcohol etc.) but using fine mesh dip nets when the smelt were running in early spring. Have a good fire going or stove to fry them on. catch a bunch clean em up and dip them in egg or milk flour and deep fry! YUMMMMMMM!
 
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