{"title":"Smelt","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreat Lakes smelt, whole, dressed, and battered. A nostalgic Midwest fry-up done the right way.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"whole-smelt-m-24","title":"Whole Smelt S\/M - 11 lbs","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e11 pounds of whole raw frozen (IQF) smelt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmelt are frozen individually and not stuck together. A few will of course get stuck together but it's not a huge block of fish. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhole (or round) means they are caught and frozen immediately. They are not cleaned, gutted, scaled, etc. These smelt are expected to be about 2 - 3 inches but they could vary more than that. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePLEASE NOTE\u003c\/strong\u003e: these are wild animals and the grading for these are sometimes off and sizes can vary. \u003cstrong\u003eNO REFUNDS due to size\u003c\/strong\u003e--I do not guarantee you will have all fish 2 - 3\". If you need it to be exact, don't buy these. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSmelt have been in very short supply the last few years and they have been running small when we do get them. No large or jumbo smelt are expected next year either. We have had to take what we can get so they are not packed in smaller bags or vac packed like we have provided in the past. I know people will order this and complain that a few years ago they were in smaller bags. These are not, they are in an 11 pound bag inside our standard 11 pound box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePackage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are in one bag inside a box, not individually packaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow it tastes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmelt has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of brininess and a tender, crispy texture when fried.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWays to cook\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best way to cook smelt fish is to pan-fry or deep-fry them, as their small size and delicate flavor shine with a crispy texture. For a healthier option, you can also grill or bake smelt with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite herbs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Walleye Direct Whatnot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53309504586092,"sku":"whole-smelt-11","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/5099\/8636\/files\/JapaneseSmelt_18.jpg?v=1777889273"},{"product_id":"battered-smelt-11","title":"Battered Smelt - 11 lbs","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e11 pounds of frozen headless cleaned and tempura battered rainbow smelt.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWild caught Great Lakes rainbow smelt (osmerus mordax) number 1 quality, headless, cleaned and quick frozen. Smelt are medium sized but grading for smelt is a bit rough and varies so I'm not giving measurements. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGet the fryer ready for a smelt fry. They are prebreaded so that saves a step in the cooking process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePackage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBox contains a plastic bag with all the smelt so you can take whatever quantity you need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow it tastes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRainbow smelt are known for their mild, slightly sweet flavor, making them a versatile and delicious option for seafood lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWays to cook\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFry, bake, or air-fry for a quick and delicious meal. Perfect for fish fries, tapas, or a unique addition to your seafood platter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Great Lakes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53309504618860,"sku":"battered-smelt-11","price":159.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/5099\/8636\/files\/SmeltTartar_42.jpg?v=1777889031"},{"product_id":"dressed-smelt-1","title":"Dressed Smelt - 1 lb Retail bag","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDressed Smelt - Wild-Caught \u0026amp; Ready to Cook\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnjoy a classic Great Lakes tradition with our wild-caught dressed smelt. These small, silvery fish are completely cleaned - heads and guts removed - so they're ready to cook the moment they arrive at your door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor\u003c\/strong\u003e: Smelt offer a delicate, subtly sweet taste with a tender, flaky texture. When fried until golden, they become irresistibly crispy, and the small bones dissolve during cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to Cook\u003c\/strong\u003e: Traditionally pan-fried or deep-fried. Simply season, dust with flour or cornmeal, and fry in hot oil until crisp. Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce or aioli.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNutrition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Naturally high in protein (15g per serving), low in carbohydrates, and a good source of calcium.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Walleye Direct Whatnot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53757364142444,"sku":"dressed-smelt-1","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/5099\/8636\/files\/SmeltGreenSauce_24.jpg?v=1778678131"},{"product_id":"smelt-dressed-11-lbs","title":"Smelt - Dressed - 11 lbs","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e11 pounds of skin on headless dressed smelt.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur dressed lake smelt are headless, gutted and packaged all together as Individually Quick Frozen (IQF). They can vary in size based on the smelt run that day but are usually between 2-3 inches long — these are on the smaller side than what we've had available in the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo... \u003cstrong\u003eTHESE ARE SMALL\u003c\/strong\u003e. I put it in all caps because people are complaining about the size. The old days of abundant jumbo smelt in a net are gone. These are going to be small. These are usually caught in the spring during the annual smelt run and immediately processed and frozen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese are raw fish — NOT breaded like the picture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePackage\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA big box of finger-size frozen fish ready for cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow it tastes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmelt delights with a subtle sweetness, a whisper of the sea, and a satisfying crunch that melts into buttery perfection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWays to cook\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe best way to cook smelt fish is to pan-fry or deep-fry them, as their small size and delicate flavor shine with a crispy texture. For a healthier option, you can also grill or bake smelt with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite herbs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Walleye Direct Whatnot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54199117775212,"sku":"SMELT-11","price":189.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/5099\/8636\/files\/smelt-main.jpg?v=1786807090"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/5099\/8636\/collections\/SmeltTartar_42.jpg?v=1782866562","url":"https:\/\/www.walleyedirect.com\/collections\/smelt-fish.oembed","provider":"Walleye Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}