Mike,

These are the surf smelt and I dont' bother to remove the backbone as the fish are small enough I just crunch them up.

The Columbia smelt are lots bigger and removing the backbone of them might be needed. Also, these smelt are lots softer than the surf smelt.

I gave up trying to cook up the Columbia smelt as I never could get them crisp enough. They were still mushy. Now... when I smoked the Columbia smelt... different story and they are oily enough to smoke good.

Columbia smelt are just starting. Our traditional time to best net them was Presidents day weekend. Seemed we could always count on a good run by Kelso that date.

I'll be back up at Whidbey Island one day this weekend again. This time I'll get there earlier.
_________________________
zen leecher