European Smelt Fishing in Gloucestershire

Tiny sabikis or size 10–12 hooks with fish sliver by dock lights on evening tides Feb–Mar. Fish midwater on the ebb.

Winter nights on small fish strips or sabiki under any lights; keep baits midwater in gentle flow near outfalls. Short casts on neaps.

Dec–Feb nights on neap tides. Size 12–16 hooks with tiny worm/fish slivers, worked midwater in the main run or under any lights. Short, twitchy retrieves.

Occasional winter runs; size 10–14 hooks with small worm/shrimp slivers at night on slack/flood, ideally near lights/structure. Slow retrieves.

Midwinter nights around spring tides; tiny sabikis or size 12–16 hooks tipped with fish/squid slivers. Fish near current seams at the top of the tide.

Late winter–early spring on neaps after dusk. Tiny fish strips or size 10–12 Sabikis worked midwater along channel margins during the slower tide.

Tiny hooks or sabikis with worm/maggot; short winter run Jan–Mar at slack water around pill mouths and flow breaks; gentle retrieve.

Winter nights; size 10-14 hooks or small sabiki tipped with fish/worm; fish near top of tide in slack water; very delicate bites.

Late-winter evenings on neap highs. Small sabikis or size 10s with fish strip near surface by lights/outflow; short feeding windows.

Midwinter nights around HW near any lights/outflows. Tiny size 10-14 hooks with slivers of fish or worm; gentle lift bites.

Dec–Mar; tiny silver spinners or small fish strips on size 10s worked midwater in flow seams at dusk on neap tides.

Winter runs. Tiny hooks (size 10-12) with slivers of fish or worm fished midwater from the bank at night around high on neaps.

Late winter on big evening highs; small sabikis or size 12–14 hooks with fish sliver, worked midwater in the main run; brief feeding near slack.

Dec-Mar nights; tiny size 10-12 sabikis or a small single hook with fish slivers worked midwater near current seams on the flood, best on neaps.

Late winter runs. Use small sabikis or size 10 hooks with tiny rag slivers under lights at dusk near the harbour mouth on making tides.

Occasional winter visitors; fish small sabikis or size 6-8 hooks tipped with fish strip near outfalls or lights on night tides Dec-Feb.

Occasional winter runfish; small sabiki or size 10–12 with rag slivers at night around neap HW. Keep baits midwater in slack.

Midwinter runs possible; tiny sabikis or size 12 hooks tipped with fish near slack high, around inflows or any lights.

Late winter nights. Small Sabikis or size 8-10 hooks tipped with rag/fish skin; try midwater in slower eddies on neaps, ideally near any light.

Tiny sabikis or size 14 hooks with fish slivers fished midwater by outfalls on night spring tides in late winter. Keep leads light and work the flow.

Occasional in late winter; try small sabiki or size 12 hooks tipped with fish slivers at dusk on spring tides in fast seams. Short casts.