My wife grew up in NH and told me about doing the smelt fishing thing with her father when she was a little girl. She said it was fun and that the smelt were really good fried crisp. May have to do that some day.
They really are terrific eating, and your wife is right. It really is a lot of fun, and when you get into a thick school running on a tide it can be non-stop action. Our neighbors, with 4 people fishing, caught over 200 of the little beauties in 3 hours. If people are expecting fancy, comfortable and spotless place they best look elsewhere but if fun for all ages and a great winter pastime is sought and don't mind being rough around the edges, it's hard to beat. Especially in the doldrums of winter when most any other fishing and hunting is closed/done.
