Smelting 2011. Chequamegon Bay spring tradition.

The yearly early spring smelting season is on. For a few days each spring hopefully after "ice out" the smelt run will be on. Smelters flock to the Chequamegon Bay shoreline from all over the midwest. Smelting season may last for a few days or if we are lucky over two weekends. On a successful night smelters can "pull" hundreds of pound of the little guys. Service organizations, church groups and families take the opportunity to have "Smelt Fries". Some to raise money some as part of a yearly tradition.