I used to get them off of Cooper Point in Olympia, the salt water smelt were firmer (and tastier) then the river smelt. Actually saw an old man wading in the surf about 40 years ago on the O.P. with a piece of net between a forked stick, his wife kept a fire going on the beach for him to warm up at. I was impressed although I never tried it. He used birds and seals as indicators that the smelt were at that spot.