Abstract: A smelt stand for use for smelt fishing where the shoreline does not permit the insertion of a support post. The invention also supports one or more fishing rods when still fishing techniques are employed. The smelt stand is comprised of a foldable support box that includes a base member and a perpendicularly oriented top member hingedly connected to the base member. The top member includes a plurality of openings adapted to permit the passage and retention of a post member or multiple fishing rods. The post member when positioned in one of the apertures extends upward in a vertical fashion to permit the attachment of a smelt net lead line. The base member includes a counterweight support pad that is pivotally connected to the base member. The counterweight support pad includes a recess that is adapted to support a counterweight, such as a bucket filled with water or sand.