Great Lakes smelt

[mrl0004]

I remember someone talking about these a while back. I noticed some in a local grocery store, labeled as "Great Lakes smelt." In Alabama, we would call them minnows......but I remember you guys talking about eating them. How do you eat them? Do you eat them whole? Any pics? Thanks!
Matt

[buckhunter14]

Not minnows. Different species. Cut the heads, pull the guts, batter, and deep fry. Some people pull out the backbone, some dont.

[Phil from Maine]

Smelts are great to eat. Really yummy little fish IMO.. Up here we call them smelts or Rainbow smelts. We also have bigger ones that run up streams from the salt water.. Cleaned and fried up the salt water ones are tastety as well.