SMELT FISHING BONANZA

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This was undoubtably the best year for smelt fishing that anyone has ever seen. It was in the early 1980's.The exact year eludes me. I was invited by my boss at work, (the guy in the center with the orange cap) to go on a smelt fishing trip at Point Peele, Canada. The first night we went it was really good. We took three wagons and had two forty gal. garbage cans on each one of them and we filled all six. It was so good that we decided that we would come back in two days and try it again. WE Arrived home with the fish just in time to have a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast and head off to work. No sleep at all that night. When we arrived home from work We cleaned smelt far into the night. After a few hours sleep we went to work and then headed out for the second night of smelt dipping. This time we decided to take my wife Joyce along as the photographer. She had never been on such an adventure and was honored that we had asked her to come along. She was also pretty good at keeping me warm by the fire, as you can see. We also brought along the crew of little soldiers to help with removing the fish from the nets and putting them in the cans. We were the only ones on the beach that were allowed to have a fire because you have to have it in an approved metal fire box. We just built a fire box and put removable wheels on it and it served as a wagon too. When we built our fire with the DNR officials looking on. The other people started building them on the beach and they got tickets. They sure were mad at us. Never could figure out why. After all it was there stupidity that got them the ticket. We arrived there way before dark and the fish don't start running till about 11:00 PM, so we lounged around on the beach awhile. As darkness fell we watched the beautiful sunset and then it was time to get ready. We put the garbage cans for the fish in a nice neat line where we wanted them. Then we unrolled the twenty foot net and spread it out on the beach. Then we sat down for the wait until the fish came in. The big boss man was having trouble putting on his waders He pulled and he tugged and no luck. They just wouldn't budge, so we decided to give him a little help. Three of us grabbed the top of his waders, lifting him up in the air and shook him till he slid into the waders. He liked that. It saved him alot of work. He was all smiles after that, but he had worked up a sweat and was all tuckered out, so he decided to sit down and take a seista. The chairslowly broke and deposited him flat on his hinney. He looked up just as my wife snapped the picture. She said whats the matter Andy? He said no matter where you go there is always a smart ass in every crowd.

As darkness fell upon us playtime was over. We started doing one run with the net every 15 minutes to see if the smelt were in yet. They finaly started running and the action was fast and furious. It was absolutely unbelievable. Andy said it was the best run he had ever seen and he had been coming there for over 20 years. The net load in the picture was a typical example of the ones to follow that night. This net load filled three bushel baskets full of fish and there were still some on the ground, that the kids had to pick up. The kids were great. They picked up all the fish that were droped in the sand, saving us work.

We soon had our six, forty gallon garbage cans full of fish and a ten gallon can and some five gallon buckets full too. Then we started filling up all the buckets for everyone on the beach, since we had the biggest net. By now we were all tired out, but work was not done. Some one hollered, we better hurry if we are going to make the last train.

We started rushing to pack everything. When we got rolling we had three wagons with two garbage cans apiece on them and various buckets we were carring.

Pushing the wagons in the deep sand was combersome work but we finally made it and got loaded up on the train. Then I looked up and saw a familiar face. I was 100 miles from home and in a Foreign country and who did I see but my wife's brother and his wife.

For years the boss kept trying to get me to go back there, on another smelt fishing trip, But I said I have seen the best and I have no time for the rest. Time for new adventures.

By: Henry Chaffin