By Guide Rick Buss:
This month I’m talking about smelt and carp again. I know some of you are thinking, “That’s not what I’m after.” Well it’s winter and that’s what’s biting now. As this is a kayak feature, I’m going to give you the basics of how to target these fish from a yak.
Smelt first. Most anglers fish for smelt from a dock or pier, usually at night, where there is some artificial light over the water. The lights draw in small microorganisms and crustaceans, which, in turn attracts the small fish we call silversides or spearing. The smelt love to eat the silversides and this year we’ve got small whiting that eat them both. I like to eat all of the above mentioned fishes. What we have here is a great little food chain with me at the top.
It’s gotten quite difficult to find well-lit docks and piers that are open to the public. Too many messy and/or noisy fisher folk have forced many private spots to ban fishing to the general public. This is where kayaks can get you into some hot fishing. You can still fish closed docks, right under their lights when you’re in your little plastic boat. Most of the time you’ll have the bite all to yourself. Should you want to fish somewhere totally dark, they make lights that run on batteries that you can lower into the water to get the ball rolling, bait ball that is. I like a green light from www.fishinglightsetc.com. Bait up a sabaki with bits of sea worms or grass shrimp and you’re in business. A silver side cut in small pieces makes a hard to beat bait also.
Now about those carp, a very under appreciated species, for sure. Locate a pond, lake, river or canal.
Most places have them believe it or not. Use your fish finder to find some good sized marks usually hanging near the bottom and along drop offs. A place where there is some water flowing in brings food and if that inflow has run underground or has been in full sun it may be a degree or two warmer than the body of water it flows into and that will attract the fish. Try and get over the fish and pulverize a few small bits of the middle of a slice of soft white bread in the palm of your hand mix it up with water, still in your palm, until it liquefies. Sprinkle in the water above the marks. The idea is to have no real pieces, just the smell and taste. Mold and compress a ball from the same bread middle around a #6 hook and let it sink on its own with no weight. You’ve got to really squeeze it on the hook hard so there’s no air in it so it sinks well. If those marks are carp you should know soon. The pulverized bread gets ‘em sniffing around and foraging. Oh and bring a big net as carp have no ‘handles’ to lift them with, their gills shut tight and their mouths aren’t big like bass.
BEWARE: Carp fishing and smelt eating are both very addicting. You’ve been warned. There are a lot of monster carp out there. If you haven’t given it a shot, you really should.
FORECAST BY: Guide Rick Buss, (617) 719-2036, www.belleislekayakadventures.com. Kayak specialist and fishing guide Rick Buss fishes, dives & snorkels off his kayak. He runs his guide service out of Belle Isle in Winthrop but can deliver kayaks to your location.