You will find you have the best success fishing for lake whitefish
early in the morning. Sunrise till about noon is your best bet. By
starting early after sunrise you will find you will have your greatest
success as lake whitefish feeding activity will lessen as the sun gets
higher in the sky. If your weather conditions include a cloudy day
chances are you can increase your fishing success past the noon cutoff.
Try to locate areas with a hard bottom and with a good drop off.
Because whitefish are a schooling species once you locate one chances
are others will be found close by. Drill 5 or 6 holes and fish each one
for about 20 minutes. If you have little or no success, move onto the
next hole. An auger should be no more than 8 inches in diameter, which
should be more than capable of landing any whitefish you encounter
during your day of icefishing. Once you drilled your holes, take the
time to clean the snow and slush from them. Many times the sound your
power auger produces will spook any fish in the area. By taking the
time to clean up your holes you give the whitefish time to return to
their normal behaviour.
One of the best items a ice fisherman can purchase is a portable
fishing tent. You will be spending a great deal of time out on the
frozen lake and your comfort is a key ingredient in having an enjoyable
day. Comfort will also help in your concentration.
Lake whitefish are bottom feeders in most situations and have been
known to eat a wide variety of bottom-living invertebrates as well as
smaller fishes. In some areas microscopic planktonic creatures form the
majority of their diet. A wire worm jig is one of the most popular lure
in the Canadian prairies and imitates the aquatic organisms that lake
whitefish love to eat. Ensure you set the hook fast as whitefish have
the tendency to spit it out fast. The key is to always be ready to set
the hook quickly so it is vital you are always watching your wire worm.
A nice 26 inch ice fishing rod is ideal for fishing for Lake whitefish.
Ensure the rod has light to medium action as it will help you in
feeling the whitefish strike. Braided line works best for icefishing as
it retains no memory in the line. This can mean the difference between
landing your catch and losing it.
Although Lake whitefish will bite spoons and other lures rigged up with
such baits as minnows and leeches, the wire worm
jig consistently outperforms all other methods of catching lake
whitefish. The most popular colour for a wire worm is red. This colour
worm mimics larvae found in most Canadian lakes. Experiment with
different colours and sizes to see what works best for you on any given
day or on different lakes. Carry a small journal with you to record
weather conditions etc .
Bottom
is Best
Again because lake whitefish are predominately bottom
feeders, make sure you are fishing about a foot off the
bottom. Start your presentation within this zone and jig your wire worm
once every minute or so to entice any whitefish in the area to come on
over and have a look. This suggestion is only a starting point for your
day and is not set in stone. If you observe whitefish at various other
depths then adjust your presentation to have a good chance at landing
them. If possible rig up several rods with a variety of presentations
varying the size and colour of your wire worms. This will save you time
if one colour and size is not
successful.
Be sure to stop by our Ice
Fishing Store, we have something
for every hard water angler