Catching Whitefish From Shore

[SNAPFisher]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=330170

Beat me to it!

Cmon chucky, you have the info, now post the evidence. Note, no internet pictures of others please

[Smoky buck]

Even I can get the Tapatalk app to post photos from my phone on AO

Now I just need to get out and catch some fish

[chucklesthe3rd]

https://imgur.com/lQgLMlW
My modified bobber so that I can spot it much easier
https://imgur.com/7TiBl7k
Small red wirworm size 10 hook but dont be afraid to up-size.
https://imgur.com/PON5WOy
A one man limit most of those whites were in the 3lb size range

[SNAPFisher]

Didn't work on IE but could see them on Chrome. Looks good!

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by chucklesthe3rd

https://imgur.com/lQgLMlW
My modified bobber so that I can spot it much easier
https://imgur.com/7TiBl7k
Small red wirworm size 10 hook but dont be afraid to up-size.
https://imgur.com/PON5WOy
A one man limit most of those whites were in the 3lb size range

awesome thanks for sharing them!

[mtnhunter]

Well, I've been out a full day a week trying my darnedest to catch a lake whitefish and after 4 days worth of fishing, I am still without a bite. What gives? I've got my slip bobber set up with an egg sinker sandwiched between it and the swivel. I've tried wireworms, chironomids, caddis larvae, leeches, prince nymphs, damselfly nymphs, etc. and still not a take. I've adjusted my depths between 3 feet to 26 feet below the surface and not a bite. I've both slowly reeled and occasionally twitched the flies to ensure I'm connected to the flies and giving them life-like movement... and... still nothing. I've moved around the lake to find different depths, dips between land masses, dams, etc. and still nothing.

Anyone able to point a lake whitefish noobie in the right direction so he can catch one?

Feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thank you so much!

[slingshotz]

Originally Posted by mtnhunter

Well, I've been out a full day a week trying my darnedest to catch a lake whitefish and after 4 days worth of fishing, I am still without a bite. What gives? I've got my slip bobber set up with an egg sinker sandwiched between it and the swivel. I've tried wireworms, chironomids, caddis larvae, leeches, prince nymphs, damselfly nymphs, etc. and still not a take. I've adjusted my depths between 3 feet to 26 feet below the surface and not a bite. I've both slowly reeled and occasionally twitched the flies to ensure I'm connected to the flies and giving them life-like movement... and... still nothing. I've moved around the lake to find different depths, dips between land masses, dams, etc. and still nothing.

Anyone able to point a lake whitefish noobie in the right direction so he can catch one?

Feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thank you so much!

You are not alone in the frustration, tried two times in the last two weeks with pretty much exactly the same setup and methods. Extra frustrating when you see others with what looks to be the same setup catching fish. One thing I did notice was some people did not have the egg weight and just the wireworm but I don't know how the wireworm alone is heavy enough to pull the line down through the bobber.

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by slingshotz

You are not alone in the frustration, tried two times in the last two weeks with pretty much exactly the same setup and methods. Extra frustrating when you see others with what looks to be the same setup catching fish. One thing I did notice was some people did not have the egg weight and just the wireworm but I don't know how the wireworm alone is heavy enough to pull the line down through the bobber.

Guessing they might have been using a fixed depth setup since the wireworm wouldn’t be heavy enough to move line. Were they catching on this setup without an egg sinker? Is it possible we are missing subtle takes because the sinker changes what is felt at the bobber?


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[slingshotz]

Originally Posted by mtnhunter

Guessing they might have been using a fixed depth setup since the wireworm wouldn’t be heavy enough to move line. Were they catching on this setup without an egg sinker? Is it possible we are missing subtle takes because the sinker changes what is felt at the bobber?


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Nope, I saw one setup very clearly and the wireworm was right against the bottom of the slip float as they were casting, they didn't even use a swivel to separate the wireworm and mainline.

I do wonder about the affect the sinker has on detecting strikes with the float. What size float are you using? I bought some 3/8" pencil and 1 1/8" oval Thill floats. Everyone seemed to be using the larger 1 or 1 1/8" ones and it was too windy to try with the pencils on the weekend. I think I might have had one brief tug as my float very briefly pointed a different direction against the wind but wasn't sure if that was a rogue wave.

[mtnhunter]

I wonder that too, but some guys I’ve talked to who have limited out on whities are using 1/2oz sinkers to cast further and cover more water. They were using 5-6” Thills and some of the 1-1/8” Thills modified with other floats on top (some foam, some corkies, some specialized floats).


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[Dielbo]

Hey Mtn, have you been tipping the w/w with maggots? In my experience, using bait is necessary for consistently catching whites. That said, my experience is mainly in rivers and creeks so ymmv.

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by Dielbo

Hey Mtn, have you been tipping the w/w with maggots? In my experience, using bait is necessary for consistently catching whites. That said, my experience is mainly in rivers and creeks so ymmv.

Hey Dielbo, thanks for reaching out. I’ve tried mealworms and maggots some but didn’t continue as it didn’t seem to make a difference. I’ll give it another go this week though. Thanks!


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[Brovacs]

I always catch a few in the fall while fishing for pike and walleye deadsticking minnows. I've even caught a few giants from Keho on smelts one time. Right place right time I guess.

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by Brovacs

I always catch a few in the fall while fishing for pike and walleye deadsticking minnows. I've even caught a few giants from Keho on smelts one time. Right place right time I guess.

Really? On minnows?? That’s surprising!


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[Fishingforjoy]

Went to McGregor for shore fishing whites today. Long day starting from 7am till 1pm. Landed 10 whites, 1 walleye(released), a pike cut my line and stole my wireworm. Lost 6 whites. 18 bites totally

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by Fishingforjoy

Went to McGregor for shore fishing whites today. Long day starting from 7am till 1pm. Landed 10 whites, 1 walleye(released), a pike cut my line and stole my wireworm. Lost 6 whites. 18 bites totally

Unreal! I need to learn from you!


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[pikeman06]

Nice job. Beauty lookin whites buddy.

[Hydroman]

Originally Posted by Fishingforjoy

Went to McGregor for shore fishing whites today. Long day starting from 7am till 1pm. Landed 10 whites, 1 walleye(released), a pike cut my line and stole my wireworm. Lost 6 whites. 18 bites totally

Never fished MacGregor for whites. Would you recommend North or south MacGregor?

Thanks,

[Fishingforjoy]

Originally Posted by Hydroman

Never fished MacGregor for whites. Would you recommend North or south MacGregor?

Thanks,

Depend on the wind direction. Plus a little bit luck to pray for some fish close to shore. Empty handed is not unusual. Good luck!!

[slingshotz]

Originally Posted by Fishingforjoy

Depend on the wind direction. Plus a little bit luck to pray for some fish close to shore. Empty handed is not unusual. Good luck!!

How deep were you setting your wireworm?

[Fishingforjoy]

Originally Posted by slingshotz

How deep were you setting your wireworm?

Set it to 7'

[slingshotz]

Cool thanks for the update. Were they more aggressive yesterday taking the worms as you reel back slowly or only when your float was sitting stationary? I think I got my setup right but trying to adjust my technique.

[Fishingforjoy]

Originally Posted by slingshotz

Cool thanks for the update. Were they more aggressive yesterday taking the worms as you reel back slowly or only when your float was sitting stationary? I think I got my setup right but trying to adjust my technique.

If there was no wind, retrieve slowly, very slow; otherwise let the float sits there waving by wind. Pay very close attention to the float, you have less than a second to set the hook, the white will spit out very quick.

Remember to keep the slack to a minimum otherwise very hard to have a good hookset.

[dodger]

Attach a small wire worm to a stick of TNT. Works every time.

Dodger.

[mtnhunter]

And... it finally happened! So grateful to my fellow AO members for all the advice and suggestions. A special shout out to one AO member in particular (you know who you are) who met up with me today to correct my setup and show me some finesse techniques to get a bite (don’t worry... social distancing was in practice everyone )!

Got my first lake whitefish and will keep trying to perfect the technique and connect again with a fun fish to catch!




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[SNAPFisher]

Awesome! Nice work. It only gets better from here.

[dodger]

I call this thread an AO win

Dodger

[Fishingforjoy]

Originally Posted by mtnhunter

And... it finally happened! So grateful to my fellow AO members for all the advice and suggestions. A special shout out to one AO member in particular (you know who you are) who met up with me today to correct my setup and show me some finesse techniques to get a bite (don’t worry... social distancing was in practice everyone )!

Got my first lake whitefish and will keep trying to perfect the technique and connect again with a fun fish to catch!




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Congratulations!! Beautiful catch. You deserved it.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by mtnhunter

And... it finally happened! So grateful to my fellow AO members for all the advice and suggestions. A special shout out to one AO member in particular (you know who you are) who met up with me today to correct my setup and show me some finesse techniques to get a bite (don’t worry... social distancing was in practice everyone )!

Got my first lake whitefish and will keep trying to perfect the technique and connect again with a fun fish to catch!




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nice!

[Evil69]

Nice job, I'm really happy to see you finally got one.

I was at the causeway yesterday morning for 3 hrs and not a single bite so It's good to see you connected. congrats!