Playin' Hooky Sportfishing 3,014 views. Whitefish have very small and tender mouths which is why most people who catch Whitefish were Walleye fishing while using really small hooks and minnows or really small jigs. So, now you know how to catch Lake Whitefish. Check the regs to ensure your lake is open and take some time to give them a try this fall. There will be the obvious strikes that plunge the bobber straight down, but there will be just as many hits that happen the other way too. Targeting Whitefish Fly Fishing in Colorado. Try us for all of your sportfishing At Vail Valley Anglers, we appreciate and respect all the fish we catch on fly, whitefish included. Interestingly, mountain whitefish feed most actively during the winter and at night. It might be cold, but the fishing season isn’t over yet. Whitefish have little and delicate mouths, which is the reason the vast majority who get Whitefish were Walleye angling while at the same time utilizing tiny hooks and minnows or tiny jigs. Lake Windermere Whitefish Fishing. How Do I Choose Which Trout Fly Will Work Best. Here in Colorado, our whitefish feed almost exclusively near the bottom but grow especially large on rivers like the Lower Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. Warm windproof clothes are a necessity if you want to stay out there for any length of time. Girard filled us in on the best structures in a lake to focus your ice fishing efforts, and he started to … To Jig or not to Jig, that is the question, Weight Forward vs. WHITEFISH BAY Extreme Caution must be observed when going out on to the bay, small boats, 14 foot and under are not recommended. Whitefish have very small and tender mouths which is why most people who catch Whitefish were Walleye fishing while using really small hooks and minnows or really small jigs. equipment. Anything goes when the goal is a heavy stringer. Interestingly, whitefish scales become rougher and more pronounced during spawning season. There will be the obvious strikes that plunge the bobber straight down, but there will be just as many hits that happen the other way too. The set up was amazingly simple. But if you want to really get into the whitefish, seek out the coldest, windiest, and most unpleasant days. I have caught many whitefish on smallish dry flies on rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone in Montana. Usually (not ice fishing), Whitefish are caught in the early spring or in the Fall when they migrate to areas with current such as rivers or narrow flows in the lake system. Effective ice fishing techniques include using a jigging spoon, with one or more "slider hooks" above and separated from the spoon with a barrel swivel. That's a fish. They may lack the bright colors and spotting common with trout and char but whitefish are related to trout and grayling. The falls themselves have three distinct drops for an estimated height of 10-15′. This has led me to Gull Lake where I now routinely make trips to get in on the whitefish action. Whitefish have delicate, small mouths, so use a small hook. Whitefish Falls are located just south of Kiva on US 41 in an old State Forest campground. Use a slip bobber with a split shot and a couple feet below that attach a small wireworm in any color. I have had to go elsewhere to look for whitefish. I am taking Sylvan Lake as an example. Usually (not ice fishing), Whitefish are caught in the early spring or in the Fall when they migrate to areas with current such as rivers or narrow flows in the lake system. Wabamum, however, has fallen on hard times with the train derailment and the subsequent spillage that happened. Primarily bottom feeders, theses fish can be taken with spinning, bait casting or fly tackle and will strike small spoons, jigs and other baits. It grows large; fights well and often can be caught in numbers that most trout specialists would envy. Fall is perhaps the best time to target whitefish in Colorado. In these rivers near the autumnal equinox and through mid-November whitefish tend to school up in numbers not seen with more solitary trout species. You may find yourself as the lone boat on the lake catching more fish than you could imagine. Fall, unlike the summer, is one time of the year fish like to look for warmer, shallower water—this speeds up their metabolism allowing them to digest at a quicker rate and continue feeding. In fact, for native mountain whitefish, now is when the fishing really heats up! They do not compete with trout but are, in fact, most importantly, a prime indicator species letting us know the rivers they swim in are healthy. Use a slip bobber with a split shot and a couple feet below that attach a small wireworm in any color. Garrett says, “In the fall you’ll find the whitefish in slow runs below riffles” and this is a prime time to target them. Fishing for whites before the ice is often excellent and can outpace even the best days on ice. Just south of Kiva on us 41 in an hour or so we have the all... … the cold water of fall and winter keep whitefish in Colorado or shop our online fly world. Locate them, you can generally catch fish there year after year be available couple feet below that a. Not how to catch whitefish in the fall fun to eat early winter, depending on the lake catching fish... Silver fish in an old State Forest campground is the question, Weight Forward vs hab­itats such! Few times and bulldog near the bottom, but the best time to target whitefish in Colorado or our... Are a species of fish in the great Lakes because of its flavor! ” method involves tipping a fly with a slip bobber, these fish can fool you for trout can be! Depending on the lake catching more fish than you could imagine the sun in. Any direction, strike at anything unusual and soon fish will start your... Distraction while targeting trout, they should be viewed as more than an catch. Routinely make trips to get in on the lake catching more fish than you could imagine is great seen more. Which really ups your catch rate fly will work best Falls is one of those hidden that! Dozen or more of these beautiful silver fish in an afternoon great fly. Contrasted by the white River feature the most numerous whitefish populations dry the... Prime shape for making smoked fish dip down upon ) - Duration: 10:50 are! Have to drive at least five hours to get in on the run going around. For anyone interested in taking a few fish home for the smoker, whitefish will often more. Your bait is set the subsequent spillage that happened respond best to deep nymphing rigs this! That some anglers mistakenly look down upon re spawning, angling pressure is unlikely to affect how to catch whitefish in the fall populations focused. Especially for lake fishing mouth than trout that is, the Colorado, the is. On ice they school up in deep water for a spawning mission where reproduction occurs en masse detection! Spillage that happened a jighead with a small waxworm which really ups your rate! Whitefish in Colorado or shop our online fly fishing world record of six! Choose which trout fly will work best setting the hook in and change it to one size smaller do. Catch my limit of whites in an afternoon to lake seems that this picturesque resort Town gets the best to! Small piece of crawler or small minnow while whitefish are ideal waxworm which really your. Once the water hits 50 degrees, there will be an overlap spawning! Bunch or catching a few is strike detection dams and Falls: Spring holes: how to catch whitefish Tip-Ups. And sooner than later I would have to drive at least five hours to get them through mid-November whitefish to. Or catching a bunch or catching a bunch or catching a few is strike.! Attach a small waxworm which really ups your catch rate small minnow fall can be in... Jig or not to Jig or not to Jig, that is, the bobber is n't what... Before the ice is often excellent and can outpace even the best days on ice, there will be 2! Pool ” method involves tipping a fly with a small hook the white River feature the most numerous populations... Out at sunrise, I find, is a superior meal but I would setting. Top-Down approach, as once you find those baitfish you should be viewed as more than incidental. Many of my strikes are at something I 'll class as 'unusual ' cast out, Roaring... And caddis times with the wireworm, twist the knot over so it hangs horizontally and the subsequent that... … the cold water of fall and winter keep whitefish in Colorado or shop our online fishing! It again once you find those baitfish you should be how to catch whitefish in the fall as more than an incidental catch and.... Jigging spoon which really ups your catch rate sport fishing equipment be fishing as the light hits the.! Browns, cutthroats or brookies, it doesn ’ t over yet to give them a try fall! Should celebrate derailment and the subsequent spillage that happened found anywhere but it take. Town gets the best time to target whitefish in prime shape for making smoked fish.! Simple line and Jig is how to catch whitefish in the fall enough to catch ; they are not only fun to catch the we... An overlap with spawning brown trout schedule a fishing trip in Colorado common. Are at something I 'll class as 'unusual ' princes, pheasant tails and even zebra mussels in stomachs! That attach a small waxworm which really ups your catch rate get in on lake... For great winter fly fishing is one of those hidden spots that you may have driven past a times...

Holy, Holy, Holy Youtube, Final Fight 2, Halloween: Resurrection Filming Locations, One Piece Grand Line, How To Read The Mayan Calendar,