SMELTING

We got the call that the smelt were finally running in town so as usual, Ute hosted the Smelt Party.  We arrived at her house at about 8pm to find a beautiful spread of delicious nibbles - I stuck to the fruit with the occasional pretzel but stayed away from the chocolate covered ones.  Oh by the way we saw our first bear of the season on the way.  It was a good size one and he ran across the road then stopped at watched us.  I think he was still a bit sluggish from his hibernation.  Always nice to see them from the car.
The smelt usually run late in the evening so we headed down to a bon fire that Roger had got going from all the drift wood and wood debris he picked up from the beach.  For those of us not actually dipping our nets in the water, it was nice to stand around the warm fire and watch what was going on.
One fellow found a large zip lock bag full of smelt probably from the nite before as they hadn't started running then.
They guys started getting them around 11:30 or so and it wasn't hot and heavy - usually about 4 or 5 in the net but consistent.  By the time we called it there was enough caught that the 3 guys got a large zip lock bag to take home.  Ours are all cleaned and sitting in the fridge for dinner tomorrow nite.
It was about 1:30 by the time we got home - very late for me but we had a good time.  But I am glad it only comes around once a year...