Senior Constable Bill Mackan of the Sault Ste. Marie OPP has written this useful guide to catching buckets of smelt without catching heck from the police or local conservation officers:
******************* Just your annual 'smelt' reminders
Sault Ste Marie, Ont. - Now that the area lakes and rivers are free of ice, it is once again time for the annual smelt runs in local creeks and rivers.
Sault Ste Marie OPP would like to remind area fishermen of some of the annual problems that they can avoid by exercising a little courtesy and common sence during this traditional pastime.
Keep out and off of areas that are marked as NO TRESSPASSING.
Any area that is signed as "no trespassing" or has red circular signs means to keep off or keep out.
The area is privately owned and the owners of the property do not want anyone on or in their privately owned area.
Leave your fishing area just a little cleaner than you found it.
Smelt fishermen usually fish in areas that are not all that common to other fishermen or species of fish.
Many people have turned this pastime into a family event and bring the entire family and friends with them.
In most occasions the families bring food and refreshments with them.
Unfortunately some smelt fishing areas are left with garbage and discarded fishing materials littering the shorelines and surrounding areas.
Take your garbage back home with you or deposit it in an appropriate garbage container.
Some families enjoy building a campfire while trying to fill buckets of the small fish.
Make sure the area you are fishing in is not under a fire ban and that your fire is attended at all times.
Put your fire dead out before leaving the area.
There will be a creek or river right there near you so take one extra bucket with your to use to douse your fire.
Leave the booze at home.
Officers in the Sault Ste Marie area have notice a slight decrease in the number of people who continue to drink at these locations and then drive home.
Officers will be patrolling the smelt fishing areas looking for drinking violations and anyone who insists on drinking and driving.
Enjoy the fishing but enjoy the drinking once you get home.
Got your fishing licence ??
Yes you do need one to catch smelts.
You are trying to catch fish and therefore you are fishing.
When you are fishing in Ontario you do need a fishing licence.
A fishing licence is available at many businesses all across Ontario.
Both OPP officers and Conservation Officers will be looking for fishing licences for any adult fishermen.
If you are not sure of any of the rules and regulations with the laws surrounding these circumstances, call the OPP or the Ministry of Natural Resources for information on the rules and regulations surrounding smelt fishing and the related activities.
The OPP want everyone to enjoy this year's smelt fishing season.
All you really want to bring home is a bucket of smelts and not a ticket.
Follow a few simple rules and all you will have to worry about is the best recipe to cook your smelt and not the court date on your ticket.
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