European Smelt Fishing in Bristol

Late winter nights on neaps. Small sabikis or size 12–14 with fish slivers, near-surface around any lights; cast to channel seams.

Late winter evenings on springs. Tiny sabikis or size 12–16 hooks baited with fish slivers, fished mid-water near flow seams/bridge lights.

Dec–Feb around high water at night. Tiny size 12–16 hooks/sabikis baited with fish slivers, worked midwater in slack eddies; short casts.

Winter nights under lights; tiny sabikis or size 14 hooks with slivers of fish, mid-water at top of tide.

Winter evenings; small sabiki or single size 12 with rag sliver near lights; keep midwater on neap tides; short dusk feeding flurries.

Late winter to early spring at dusk. Small silver spoons or sabikis near surface on the flood; slow retrieve.

Winter evenings around flow and any lights; tiny sabikis or small spoons worked midwater on the flood.

Winter evenings on a flooding tide; small sabikis or size 8 hooks with tiny fish slivers, worked midwater under bridge lights.

Dec–Feb night floods. Tiny spinners or sabikis worked under bridge lights midwater; brief feeding spells around high tide.

Cold clear winter nights; tiny baits or size 6–8 sabikis worked in eddies at slack water near surface.

Late winter neaps; tiny spinners or small fish slivers on size 8–10 hooks in midwater near surface at dusk. Rare bycatch.