Just to back up what has been said about smelt preferring cooler water, a
few years ago I was on a hunting/fishing trip on the New England tableland,
about 4500 feet up, in June. It was very cold.
One morning early I observed ice about a quarter of an inch thick from the
edge to about a metre out in the stream beside our camp. After a bit of sun
the ice went, but mid-morning I saw smelt swimming right where the ice had
been, well lit up too.
I thought it was most unusual for Australian fish to appear to be happy in
those conditions.
Maybe Peter Unmack should start a coldest Australian fish competition.
Doug