Whole smelts Calgary
 

Any info on where we can find whole smelts in Calgary? Checked 3 superstore all sold out . Thanks

Saw some in Bass Pro on friday (Rockyview location) in the freezer to the right of the fly fishing area at the back wall. Also saw some at T&T, mind you that was months ago.

the fishing hole had them this winter

Havent been recently but T&T or asian supermarkets usually have them, cheap too.

I’m up in Edmonton, but I agree I found them about 3 weeks ago at a T&T market up here and they had lots, decent selection of fishing sized baits as well for really decent prices $4.00 for 0.454 KG

After 24 hours in salt

I've kept my eye out for those big bags of Great Lakes Smelts they used to have at Superstore but I haven't seen them since December.

try no frills ?

talked with superstore employee they stopped carrying those big bags of smelts which is a shame as best deal out there. Fishing hole has them but only a few in a bag and really pricy for what you get T&T I found were really small but I did like their pilchards

Tried there too but no luck. I liked those smelts better than the ones you get at the Fishin Hole. They seemed fresher and had a nice variety of sizes so you could sort through a few bags and get what you needed for any body of water.

Canadian tire on 130th had them in all sizes frozen but pricey

Found some at T &T super market. They have frozen whole ones but on the smaller size. They do have fresh ones as well that are a bit bigger. Aprro $5 for a pound. Good deal.

Thanks Kinwahkly for the info.

Hi NSR_RAT
How do you keep 24hrs in the salt? Inside the fridge or outside? I usually buy the frozen smelts and once thawed it is very soft. Appreciate your response.
Cheers

I just put in ziplock bag with pickling salt. Then freeze.

I’ve left them in the basement out of direct sunlight and also in the fridge for 24 hours and I haven’t noticed a different, I completely cover them in canning salt in layers, salting between layers with a lid on the container.

Thanks Kinwahkly and NSR_RAT. Appreciated your response
Cheers