how to catch lake whitefish

Many fishermen catch whitefish using jigging spoons. Catching Your Whitefish 1. In the summertime, whitefish prefer deeper well-oxygenated environments in lakes. It’s a modified drop-shot rig with a 1/4-ounce firetiger Badd Boyz jig, a legendary Lake Simcoe whitefish lure that is a nose-heavy specialty jig that looks like a small minnow and features a center line tie. Trolling spoons also are effective later in the season when whitefish suspend over deep water. Whitefish are known to be easily spooked, so if you’re fishing for them, don’t be too jerky with your retrieves. Sand or rock bottomed lakes are good places to target them. If you get too overexcited and set your hook too aggressively you could end up tearing your hook right out of their mouth. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Fishing Line. The fishing on Flathead Lake this summer has been some of the best we have seen in years. Great Lakes lake whitefish is the primary catch for Michigan commercial and tribal-licensed anglers. 3. Snagging your fish is when you scrape it with the hook rather than piercing it. He processes the fish roe into tasty caviar, and sells the fillets to high-end restaurants. Weights are helpful when fishing for whitefish because they bring your bait to the bottom, where the whitefish eat. Lake Whitefish can be between 1.5 and 2.3 kg raw. Lindy’s Slick Jig is another option of similar style. A simple line and jig is adequate enough to catch the fish as they feast on mayflies and midges. Research catch and release laws based on where you are fishing. Once the fish move to the flats, which can … There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The bite of whitefish is very light so you need to make sure that your rod has a sensitive tip that will allow you to feel their bite. Spoons are one of the most popular lures among anglers for catching whitefish. You can add a weight if you are using either a jigging spoon or live bait. Whitefish usually hit as the lure/jig is dropping or … Without it, it is very difficult to locate the fish. Try them and you’ll find they’re very different from their cousins, the mountain whitefish. This info and lovely artwork helps immensely! Lake Whitefish Equipment Recommendations Rods and Reels. Feel free to make your cast again if you aren't satisfied with the first cast. A simple and effective way to catch Lake Whitefish is a blood worm fly/hook with a float. Typically they are silvery to white in color with an olive to pale greenish-brown back. They are also prominent throughout the great lakes regions in the U.S. Sometimes live bait is the best choice for catching whitefish or any other fish for that matter. At 0% condition food disappears if inside of a container, but not outside of containers or in the player's inventory. This is very popular, especially for lake fishing. White jigging spoons are the most popular bait for catching whitefish, many people use live bait as well. How to Catch Whitefish. How to Catch Lake Sturgeon, How to Catch Lake Sturgeon – Fishing Tips. So, try to use 6 lb or even 4 lb monofilament fishing line or Power Pro fishing line that has equivalent diameter. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. A good inline spinner can also be effective, especially when the whitefish are feeding in shallower waters. Fishing: Mainstay of the commercial catch in the Great Lakes because of its exceptional flavor, convenient size, and habit of schooling. Usually, this occurs when the water temperatures fall below 45 degrees F. They prefer to spawn in shallow rocky areas that are near the shores of lakes. Use your fish sonar to help locate the whitefish. Turn your sonar onto manual, and add in the upper and lower depths... 2. Again, whitefish have small mouths so stick with smaller jigs. Related Posts: It can be taken by fly fishing or casting with small baits. The species inhabits the cold areas of Bear Lake, staying in deeper water during the summer months. A native fish abundant in the Great Lakes, lake whitefish is known for its flaky texture. They reside in deeper, cool, oxygenated lakes. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Silver-white body? Are you new to whitefish fishing? A midge imitation fly works great when fishing in the spring. They can be caught by Ice Fishing using fishing tackle. Lake whitefish state records are the most frequently broken in Indiana in the past decade. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Thanks! It provides a considerable winter fishery in places, particularly where steelheads are absent. Lake whitefish have grown greatly in popularity in recent years as anglers have discovered how to catch these tasty, hard-fighting fish. In the Spring, whitefish feed heavily on the emerging midge pupae hatch in May and June (See Fishing Lake Simcoes Midge Hatch for Whitefish article). For whitefish salmon eggs, maggots, and waxworms are productive. In some areas, they may reside in brackish waters, but this is not as common. Learn more... Whitefish are a family of fish including cod, haddock, and pollock, to name a few species. You can search online to find popular fishing spots in advance. The lake whitefish is slender, elongated species with a mouth that is subterminal and a snout that protrudes beyond it. You want the cloud to form about 1 foot (0.30 m) off the surface. Spoons are one of the most popular lures among anglers for catching whitefish. Something around a number 6 is a good size. Though they can reach sizes up to 15lbs if you’re extremely lucky. Learn how to make it better. There is a slight lull in October as fish transition to spawning areas. In early winter you can still find whitefish near their spawning grounds near the bottom-feeding on whatever they can find (usually eggs). That’s why it’s important to be patient when fishing whitefish. Eggs, wax worms, small pieces of nightcrawler and even cocktail shrimp from the grocery store will work. Usually grow to 17-22 inches and range from 1.5-4 pounds 2. Last Updated: July 31, 2020 Adipose fin? It can be grilled, baked, broiled, pan fried, deep fried, poached, steamed, roasted and even pickled. If you start to work your lure too fast it could end up scaring them away. I have caught whites at all times of the day, but the best fishing has always been at first light. If you’re targeting whitefish on your next fishing trip, then you need to read this. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If not, release the fish after you catch it. Bear Lake whitefish are the focus of limited angling, particularly during their spawning period. The key point that you need to remember is that whitefish have small mouths, so your hook size has to be small. This is how you will tease the fish to take your bait. They are usually an olive to pale green-brown color and have white fins with dark edges. The consistent bite is in the early morning and this seems to hold true from lake to lake. By using our site, you agree to our. Lake Whitefish Basics. Lake whitefish is a pale, shy member of the trout/salmon family (Salmonidae). According to the Indiana Department of National Resources, this … That means anglers without easy access to … Whitefish has very soft mouth and is fairly shy. how to catch Mountain Whitefish. Ice fishing is more difficult than regular fishing because your visibility is limited. Some anglers will opt for braided or fluorocarbon lines as well. Another popular lure for targeting whitefish is the tried and true jig. As you get further into the season the whitefish will begin to move into deeper sections of water. Fishing for Lake Whitefish peaks during the summer as fish congregate in large schools over the deepest portions of the reservoir. Again, scale down the size of your bait to accommodate their small mouths. Lake whitefish is one of the most important species for commercial inland fisheries in North America. Whitefish are sometimes called “humpback” because of their small head size and large body. Native to the Great Lakes Monofilament line is widely used for catching whitefish. A 6 to 10-pound test line is a safe bet. how to catch Lake Whitefish Primarily bottom feeders, theses fish can be taken with spinning, bait casting or fly tackle and will strike small spoons, jigs and other baits. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 26,246 times. Lake whitefish are easy to identify. Think small when targeting whitefish. Lake Whitefish are small saltwater fish found commonly in lakes and ponds. Clinch knots aren't required, though they help assure your line and lures are tied tightly and securely. Lake whitefish are known to be quite actively feeding at night, which makes night time one of the best times to catch them. Duracz’s catch weighed 9.34 pounds, besting the previous record from 2019 by 1.65 pounds. The tail is deeply forked and they have an adipose fin. If you want to get rid of any slack in your line, reel in your line a little. These fish mainly live on the floor of rivers or lakes, spanning primarily across northern United States and Southern Canada. Whitefish are trapped in the late-winter or in the Fall when they move to zones with momentum, for example, waterways or tight streams in the lake framework. Get on the lake at dark. ", https://www.takemefishing.org/fish-species/lake-whitefish/, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/commercial/cf.html, http://www.in-fisherman.com/other-fish/where-and-how-to-catch-whitefish/, http://www.in-fisherman.com/ice-fishing/dance-the-white-fantastic-ice-fishing-for-whitefish/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. They tend to eat anything that is near the bottom of the lake. The fins are white and the tail has a dark-edge.The lake whitefish is occasionally referred to as “humpback” because the head is small in relation to the length of the body. For most of the year they spread out at great depths and are challenging to catch. Popular and valuable commercial fish 5. Smaller lures, smaller bait, smaller hooks, lighter lines. They also have a forked tail. Look for them in areas with less than 25 feet of water. Choose between salmon eggs, wigglers, maggots, and waxworms. Lake Whitefish is a food item in The Long Dark. Spring can be a difficult time to catch whitefish if you’re not looking in the right areas. You can catch them with live bait or a jigging spoon, either in the early morning or at night. The best time to target whitefish is at first light, when they’re up on the structures and easier to find, Whyte says. Great Lake Whitefish. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Catch-Whitefish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Catch-Whitefish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Catch-Whitefish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9742435-v4-728px-Catch-Whitefish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"