Does anyone still do any smelting.

[bill furdock]

Been years since the last time I went, was wonder if any one still does it. 

[Sk8man]

It pretty much depends strongly on WHERE these days Bill. They are nearly non-existant in many of the traditional spots these days.

[bill furdock]

many years ago over (30)  I use to go on the west side of Canandaigua 

[Sk8man]

Yep Menteth and I used to have a blast as a kid getting them at Vine Valley on the east side.  Lots in Seneca back in the old days at most of the creeks on both sides of the lake and there would be suckers and rainbows mixed in sometimes. I'm afraid those days are long gone...too bad as it was a fun ritual of Spring.

[bill furdock]

Oh how I remember, you are so right on the fun. 

[FishingTheFL]

Checked a few places last night that I saw some few years ago... nothing... sad sad sight... use to get a 5gal pale full in couple hours 20 years ago...

[bandrus1]

use to get a 5gal pale full in couple hours 20 years ago...

Why are they all gone?

[FishingTheFL]

Dec claims Zebra mussels eat most of the plankton that they consume. I haven't don't much research.... possibly run off from farms also

[Skidplate]

The conspiracy theory is they treated for lamprey ells when the smelt were running

[bandrus1]

Dec claims Zebra mussels eat most of the plankton that they consume. I haven't don't much research.... possibly run off from farms also

Some say over harvesting

[FishingTheFL]

Can't say I ever heard that.

[hermit]

The conspiracy theory is they treated for lamprey ells when the smelt were running

Never heard that one but it's just plain false... numerous studies have shown little to no effect on other species. I couldn't find one that referenced smelt specifically but here are some quotes from one, edited for clarity:

"We exposed juveniles of two species of fish (lake sturgeon and rainbow trout ) and one adult fish species (fathead minnows) to various concentrations of TFM (0.25–7.5 mg/L) in three sets of experiments examining TFM effects on growth, avoidance of TFM treated water, and predation susceptibility.

Lake sturgeon and rainbow trout were monitored for two weeks after a 12 hour exposure to TFM... [g]rowth rates did not differ significantly among control and treated fish of either species.

Finally, fathead minnows were exposed at three different concentrations of TFM and placed in mesocosms with a non-exposed largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides predator. Two separate trials were performed, both with no significant differences due to treatments.

In summary, results indicate that for the conditions tested, TFM has no detectable sub-lethal effects on growth, avoidance behavior, or predation mortality on the fish species tested."

Edited March 10, 2016 by hermit

[Skidplate]

Conspiracy theory.I want to believe.lol

[hermit]

Ha yeah "the truth is out there", just didn't want anyone getting funny ideas!

[jerktroller]

Not to mention that there were never lampreys in lakes like Keuka and Canandaigua yet smelt numbers are way down

[Sk8man]

My hunch is that it related to the lack of zooplankton because of the mussels.

[suttontroller94]

My hunch is that it related to the lack of zooplankton because of the mussels.

And the pesticide run off from all these dang wineries that everyone just love so much

[Skidplate]

And the pesticide run off from all these dang wineries that everyone

just love so much

And here we go.lol I hate wine unless I'm out of rum

[suttontroller94]

The one local product I won't ever purchase. Trust me its started many of arguments when my girlfriend wanted to go on a wine tour lol