Rainbow Smelt

Smelt in West Brook, Lake George NY

RAINBOW SMELT

Rainbow (Osmerus mordax) smelt are a slender, elongate fish, which are relatively small averaging 6 to 8 inches long.  This silvery fish has a pointed head, protruding lower jaw, deeply forked tail and a conspicuous streak running lengthwise along each side.  Smelt living in saltwater are anadromous, which means they enter freshwater streams to spawn.  In Lake George, smelt are landlocked and migrate into tributaries to spawn. 

In Lake George the first recorded introduction of rainbow smelt was in 1918 when roughly 2.5 million fish were released to improve the lake trout fishery.  In 1929, another 5 million were released into Lake George.  Efforts were eventually successful in the 1970's.

In the late 1980s concern arose over the stability of the smelt population and a ban was placed on the collection or possession of smelt within the Lake George watershed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). 

Smelt continue to spawn annually in numerous streams tributary to Lake George.  Spawning occurs shortly after ice-out when water temperatures approach 7°C or 42°F and primarily takes place during the night, although runs can also be observed during the daylight.  During the spawning period, both male and female fish enter the stream.  Females can produce thousands of very small eggs, which are deposited on the streambed.  After spawning the fish return to the lake where they congregate in the relatively cool medium depths of the lake.  Smelt eggs take a couple of weeks to hatch, which can be influenced by a variety of factors including water temperature, the speed of the water, and instream habitat.  After hatching the larvae work their way back to the lake. 

In Lake George, smelt are fed on by Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Bass and other game fish.