A chap in the tackle shop asked me was there a record for a rod caugth smelt, I didn't know, I don't even know where they come from. Can any one help? Cheers

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Dave

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The NFSA have current British Rod caught record fish listed at:
http://www.nfsa.org.uk/brfc/record_list.htm

Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be an entry for smelt.

We sometimes get a run of them in the River Medway, but I've not know of any caught by rod and line anglers.

I have heard that they can be caught on suitably light tackle.

Small fish, with plenty of teeth, they smell slightly of cucumbers and make excellent pike bait!

Tight Lines - leon

There was an thread on this topic earlier. I catch them in a cast net, max size so far is about 6 inches and I don't think they grow much bigger. On the North coast of France they catch them in drop nets or with freshwater match tackle - 3lb line or finer, size 24 hook and a flake of prawn for bait. The drop netters use fish scraps to lure them so a fishy bait seems best. Go for it, you could extend the record books! I catch them in Hampshire, I suspect their range does not extend all the way to the North of Britain but you never know if you are not fishing for them - they are unlikely to be caught accidently as their mouths are so small. Good bass baits and tasty pan-fried.

Smelt? Which smetlt? There are 3 in the NFSA diary?
I guess you`re asking about the big one? Osmerus eperlanus? 6oz 12 drams? or the Smelt(sand) 2oz 9drams? or the Sand-smelt 5drams?
Personally, I go for the big ones with size 12 hooks and 2lb line using a 1/4ins slivver of mackeral??
Could be worse? I use them for live-bait instead of weighing them?

Cheers lads

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Dave