The tough skin of the smelt means that they are easy to hook and stay on well, even when fishing at long range. The body is cylindrical, and they are a dense bait packed with muscle. Smelt have accounted for a huge number of big pike for us as well as customers, and it is rare that anglers do not have this bait on one of their rods.

Smelt have a unique cucumber-like smell, but Baitbox think it is the bright white colour which really makes them stand out to any passing pike. Especially when contrasted with the lake or river bed smelt really stand out and cannot be missed.

Being a tough bait, smelt can be used under a float for trotting baits on rivers, or even for fishing sink-and-draw style. They really are a very versatile bait and account for huge numbers of pike each year.