Freshwater · Best in winter through the ice and during spring spawning runs
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
The rainbow smelt is a small, silvery anadromous fish of Atlantic Canada and the Great Lakes, with landlocked populations in lakes such as Lake Simcoe. In Canada it is best known for winter ice-fishing villages on Quebec's Saguenay fjord and New Brunswick estuaries, and for spring dip-netting at creek mouths.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Silvery body with a purple and pink iridescent sheen
- Small adipose fin behind the dorsal fin
- Large mouth with small teeth, including teeth on the tongue
- Fresh fish smell faintly of cucumber
- Usually 6-10 in, rarely larger
Habits
- Anadromous fish run from the sea into rivers and creeks to spawn in spring
- Landlocked populations complete the whole life cycle in large lakes
- Feed on small crustaceans, insects and tiny fish
- Gather in dense schools under the ice in estuaries in winter
- Spawn at night over gravel in streams just after ice-out
Distribution
Where to find them
- Ice-fishing cabin villages (cabanes à pêche) on the Saguenay fjord and New Brunswick estuaries
- Lake Simcoe and Great Lakes bays through the ice
- Creek and river mouths during the spring spawning run
Where they live
How to catch them
Ice fishing with tiny hooks Lake
Rig: Short ice rod or hand line, tiny hooks or small jigs fished in schools under estuary or lake ice, often from an ice cabin
Bait/lure: Tiny pieces of shrimp, fish or smelt
Key tip: Smelt travel in schools and bite in waves — keep baits small and rebait often when a school passes.
Spring dip-netting at stream mouths Shore
Rig: Long-handled dip net worked at night in creeks and river mouths during the spawning run, where regulations allow
Bait/lure: No bait — fish are netted on the spawning run
Key tip: Check local rules and seasons carefully; dip-net fisheries are tightly regulated and often limited to specific waters and dates.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Short ice rod or hand line
- Line: 4-6 lb mono
- Terminal: Tiny hooks, small ice jigs, split shot
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 6-10 in; large fish to about 12 in
On the table
Excellent — sweet and delicate, usually eaten whole pan-fried or lightly floured.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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