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Queenston smelts are still on


Dan Andrews

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No problem! Atlantic Salmon are scarce in the Great Lakes; however, there was a time when they were quite plentiful. While Atlantics that live their entire lives in fresh water cannot compare to sea-run fish in terms of strength and stamina, the ones that do exist in the Great Lakes are still quite a prize. More importantly, Atlantic Salmon populations are on the decline everywhere, so it is important for anglers to be aware of these special fish. Below is a link and a copy/paste that might prove useful:

Atlantic Salmon Federation Site

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Atlantic Salmon Life Cycle

* An Atlantic salmon undergoes many changes during its life. Pea-sized orange eggs are deposited in riverbeds in autumn. Early the following spring, thousands of tiny Atlantic salmon alevin emerge. These alevin are about two cm. long, and subsist off the attached yolk sac, hiding from predators in the gravel of the streambed. When the yolk sac is nearly gone the young fish wriggle up into the water, and are called fry until they are about five to eight cm. long.

* The Atlantic salmon later acquire vertical markings on their flank, identifying them as in the parr stage. Parr have dark backs, with 9 to 11 bars, called parr marks, along their sides - which act as camouflage. Parr remain in the river for two to 6 years, depending on temperatures and food supply.

* At a length of 12 to 24 cm., parr undergo a springtime transformation into smolt. Parr marks are replaced by a silvery coat for better camouflage at sea. Their internal systems adapt for saltwater life, and the fish leave their streams, travelling to ocean feeding grounds. Salmon from both sides of the Atlantic rendezvous in the waters off southwestern Greenland. Others travel to lesser-known oceanic or coastal feeding areas. They grow rapidly on a diet of small crustaceans and fish. They also must elude predators including larger fish and marine mammals.

* After one or more years at sea, following a hereditary route and timetable, Atlantic salmon return to their home rivers in an extraordinary journey that may span more than 4,000 km. of open ocean. If they return after one winter at sea, they are called grilse.

* Entering the river between April and November, they navigate upstream, leaping obstructions up to 3m. high to spawn in shallow tributaries in late fall.

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Adult salmon with more than one year at sea are simply called "salmon." Post-spawn salmon are referred to as slink or spent salmon and catching them in most places is not permitted.

Another interesting fact is that Atlantic Salmon do not feed once they have entered their home river enroute to spawning. Because they don't feed, getting one to take a fly is a matter of presentation in such a way that it triggers a reflexive strike.

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You soaked them in milk why? ;)

normally, I wouldn't do that, but we have a few in the household that won't eat fish if it's too fishy. so I soak the fish in milk to get the fishyness out. it's also good if your fish live in weeds and aquires that weedy flavour. the chemical makeup of milk is good for removing this...............learned it from Bob Izumi years ago and it works. LOL.

Rich

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  • 1 month later...

Just want to make sure. Are those guys also smelts (see the image below) or...?

fiiiishhhhh.jpg

We caught some at Queenston this night and honestly I am not 100% sure about the identification.

Thanks in advance!

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1) You really should be sure what you're taking before you grab a bushel full, no matter how plentiful they may be at that moment.

2) Those are Alewife, which have no season or limit as long as you have a valid recreational license and take them with a legal net.

Though really, they're not that tasty. They are the reason our salmon have their pasty white flesh instead of the ruby red meat of the West Coast.

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Luvevolution, CLofchik - thanks a lot for the answers, it's highly appreciated indeed!

should be sure what you're taking before you grab a bushel full

Yeah, I share this point of view! Though I was not alone fishing them so seeing lots of people doing it openly was more or less enough to rest assured that the activity was legal.

Once again - thanks!

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Luvevolution, CLofchik - thanks a lot for the answers, it's highly appreciated indeed!

Yeah, I share this point of view! Though I was not alone fishing them so seeing lots of people doing it openly was more or less enough to rest assured that the activity was legal.

Once again - thanks!

So if 20 guys were painting their wieners purple you'd join in?

just messin miron you seem like a cool dude

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Yeah, I share this point of view! Though I was not alone fishing them so seeing lots of people doing it openly was more or less enough to rest assured that the activity was legal.

Once again - thanks!

That doesn't always mean a lot. Yesterday, I saw quite a few people targeting bass at a pond, even though they're still OOS. Didn't make a difference to them. Now I won't say anyone was keeping those bass. I know I saw one guy catch a few and throw them back. But they were still doing it.

Goes to show, just because there's other people doing it, just means there's more than one person ignorant to the rules.

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So if 20 guys were painting their wieners purple you'd join in?

Goes to show, just because there's other people doing it, just means there's more than one person ignorant to the rules.

Keeping in mind that we are in Canada where people don't hesitate to call police any time they witness suspicious things, seeing about ten guys fishing the same kind of fish without Police cars and NPC patrols means only one thing to me... hehe... but anyway - you both are right! ;)

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Guest TC1OZ
Keeping in mind that we are in Canada where people don't hesitate to call police any time they witness suspicious things, seeing about ten guys fishing the same kind of fish without Police cars and NPC patrols means only one thing to me... hehe... but anyway - you both are right! ;)

I completely disagree. In the USA people will call in suspicious people/groups of people....

Here in Canada people leave you alone unless you are causing THEM problems.

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