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-   -   Sylvan whites (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=330519)

SNAPFisher 10-01-2017 10:19 AM

Sylvan whites
 
Met up with a buddy yesterday at Sylvan. First two at the launch...too bad the weather started off bad and really didn't get much better. Fished for 2-3 hours and nothing... tough day. Couldn't really see fish in the shallows either due to the cloud cover.

Finally went to the West side where the wind was coming from. Switched hooks and first cast...fish! 2nd cast, fish! Repeat many times.

Nice fall colors
https://s25.postimg.org/u1unvemfj/04...DEF09_D902.jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/w6f0wnvtr/E9...02_B2_DD80.jpg

Whitefish burgers in the fall. MMM mmmmm good!
https://s25.postimg.org/urdg7ruov/95..._F18279395.jpg

Might get out one more time in Oct...but rivers are calling too.

iYearn 10-01-2017 04:12 PM

Those are awesome Sylvan whites.

Do you think your sudden improvement in results was due to moving spots, being able to see the fish (assuming you could on the West side) or the change up in hooks?

pikeman06 10-01-2017 07:32 PM

You trolling or stripping or what? Still fishing with indicators or small bobbers gets me bites but the hooking percentage is dismal especially without bait. Good job on the whites. I don't fish sylvan just buck battle and gull for whites and sight fishing is out of the question there but they still don't like vertical under the boat. Get bites away from the boat and the odd fish but good hook sets are few and far between with wire worms.

SNAPFisher 10-02-2017 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iYearn (Post 3633838)
Those are awesome Sylvan whites.

Do you think your sudden improvement in results was due to moving spots, being able to see the fish (assuming you could on the West side) or the change up in hooks?

Moving spots for sure was the start but got nothing until I changed over to a silver chironomid. SJW and other chironomids did absolutely nothing in the same spot until I changed hooks. And then it was game on :)

SNAPFisher 10-02-2017 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikeman06 (Post 3634009)
You trolling or stripping or what? Still fishing with indicators or small bobbers gets me bites but the hooking percentage is dismal especially without bait. Good job on the whites. I don't fish sylvan just buck battle and gull for whites and sight fishing is out of the question there but they still don't like vertical under the boat. Get bites away from the boat and the odd fish but good hook sets are few and far between with wire worms.

Fly fishing with an indicator. Since we were one the quiet side I was stripping every once in awhile. It was usually after a strip that I got a hit,

jkind 10-03-2017 06:15 PM

I caught a few at the north end using SJW under an indicator from the kayak. Took a limit home for my Stepmother.

slingshotz 10-10-2017 04:59 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Went out yesterday, first time ever at Sylvan not ice fishing so didn't venture far with the pontoon. Was really surprised how shallow it stayed even really far out from shore. Luckily it didn't get too windy in the afternoon but it got choppy enough where I couldn't sight fish for them anymore, but at least the choppy water helped "jig" the flies.

First started with a red SJW and green chironomid without any interest. Saw a few whites cruising in 4-8 fow so I knew they were there. Once I changed up to a copper wire worm and a copper bead head red/black nymph they started biting. Probably a 30/70 split between ones taking the bottom wire worm and the higher bead head.

Had the entire lake to myself as far as I could see :happy0059:

SNAPFisher 10-11-2017 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slingshotz (Post 3640780)
Went out yesterday, first time ever at Sylvan not ice fishing so didn't venture far with the pontoon. Was really surprised how shallow it stayed even really far out from shore. Luckily it didn't get too windy in the afternoon but it got choppy enough where I couldn't sight fish for them anymore, but at least the choppy water helped "jig" the flies.

First started with a red SJW and green chironomid without any interest. Saw a few whites cruising in 4-8 fow so I knew they were there. Once I changed up to a copper wire worm and a copper bead head red/black nymph they started biting. Probably a 30/70 split between ones taking the bottom wire worm and the higher bead head.

Had the entire lake to myself as far as I could see :happy0059:

Nicely done!! :)

SNAPFisher 10-11-2017 11:58 AM

Changing topics a bit from Sylvan, I went out to Pigeon on Monday. Nice and calm and a great morning to be out. The idea was to find some whites, hopefully in the shallows. After checking quite a bit of shoreline...nothing, nada...
So much unlike Sylvan. I thought I would at least spook one fish. The only fish I saw was a medium sized pike. There was no surface activity either. Lots of nasty green stuff floating around depending on the wind direction. Generally I stuck to the South side since that is the direction of the wind and the cleaner water. I ended up chucking a streamer and full sink line to catch a few walleye before leaving in early afternoon.

calgarygringo 10-11-2017 01:17 PM

I bet the old Mcgregor dam whitefish run is now heading north. Nice haul.

Planning on a south run to my honey hole soon too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slingshotz (Post 3640780)
Went out yesterday, first time ever at Sylvan not ice fishing so didn't venture far with the pontoon. Was really surprised how shallow it stayed even really far out from shore. Luckily it didn't get too windy in the afternoon but it got choppy enough where I couldn't sight fish for them anymore, but at least the choppy water helped "jig" the flies.

First started with a red SJW and green chironomid without any interest. Saw a few whites cruising in 4-8 fow so I knew they were there. Once I changed up to a copper wire worm and a copper bead head red/black nymph they started biting. Probably a 30/70 split between ones taking the bottom wire worm and the higher bead head.

Had the entire lake to myself as far as I could see :happy0059:


pikeman06 10-11-2017 07:36 PM

We got whites at battle this time last year snap. They were over deep water but surfacing even in the chop. If you strike out at pigeon giver a try. Double shrimp on a floating line long leader strip and pause. North half of lake. Too busy myself but someone should sting a few on my behalf.

slingshotz 10-11-2017 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygringo (Post 3641461)
I bet the old Mcgregor dam whitefish run is now heading north. Nice haul.

Planning on a south run to my honey hole soon too.

Yeah I was thinking of giving McGregor a shot before the ice as well but I have no idea if similar tactics will work there since the whites are so much larger compared to Sylvan. I'm also a little more wary with going out on a pontoon on that lake due to the abrupt wind changes that can happen.

I have quite a bit of experience now with first ice and know the whites come in shallow in Nov, but anyone ever spot whites in the shallower areas at McGregor in Oct before the ice comes?


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