The Hunt for Whitefish October, October 19th-20th

Mykola, a friend and I headed up to my cottage this past weekend hoping to find some trophy fall whitefish. Due to a late arrival Friday night, we were off to a slightly later start than usual Saturday morning. Out on the water, we navigated some of the thickest fog I can remember seeing over the lake in a long time.





Our first spot, a rock pile by the main basin of the lake, produced the first fish of the trip. Nick (mykola) with a smallmouth caught on a live shiner rigged with an egg sinker:



After trying a few more locations by the main basin, we decided to head to a bay where we have consistently caught whitefish throughout the season. It took some time to figure out where they were holding but we eventually found them.



Nick with the 1st whitefish of the trip:



#2:





The next morning we set out earlier and headed straight back to the bay. The view during our morning boat ride:





The lake was still with mist rising from the water and we watched as the whitefish rose around us feeding on the surface. It wasn't until the wind started to pick up that they began feeding below us again.

Potentially my largest from the lake, quick photo and released:



A great weekend spent chasing whitefish with friends, despite not catching as many as we have in the past. Beautiful fall weather, really can't ask for more closing out the open water season.

Made some homemade whitefish caviar with the roe harvested from the female whitefish Nick caught. Didn't want to waste the eggs, especially ripe ones right during the spawning period. First time trying this, think it turned out pretty well.

Nice report - some nice chunky WF. I have the same netting for my net. Do you guys have any trouble with treble hooks getting tangled up in it? I don't mean hooked into the twine itself but wrapped up tightly in the mesh/twine and hard to untangle). What did you do with the roe to make the caviar? As you have seen, the females that I have been getting a full of eggs and I have been tossing them because I have no idea what to do with them and usually not a big fan of fish eggs (except stuff I have had at Japanese restaurants).

The net in the photo is Nick’s but the one we were using was very similar, just a bit shallower of a bag. From my experience, I find the position you rest the net as you’re dealing with the fish is important. Pull the net right out and into the boat and the fish will thrash. Keep the net down too low in the water and the fish will try to swim. Also line management, if your line is slack you’re more likely to tangle up in the mesh. Lots of things to consider when the adrenaline is pumping and your main goal is just netting it first and foremost. I looked up a few recipe/methods online and settled on a cold water brine after a series of gentle soaking, loosening and straining of the eggs. Drained and rinsed after 30 minutes and jarred.

Yes, that fog was outrageous. Thursday night into Friday morning you could not see hardly anything, with the darkness and thick fog. More fog Saturday and Sunday but not as bad, depending where you were. Great pictures and story, always fun fishing with a good friend. Stay safe in the fog.

Thanks C-man, we could barely see 10 feet in front of us. It was definitely a bit unnerving.

Magical

I really appreciate my GPS when it gets foggy like that and I follow paths I have set down as bread crumb trails to follow. I zoom in on the trail a little closer and follow the track......looks like you guys had fun.

Arnie

The net in the photo is Nick’s but the one we were using was very similar, just a bit shallower of a bag. From my experience, I find the position you rest the net as you’re dealing with the fish is important. Pull the net right out and into the boat and the fish will thrash. Keep the net down too low in the water and the fish will try to swim. Also line management, if your line is slack you’re more likely to tangle up in the mesh. Lots of things to consider when the adrenaline is pumping and your main goal is just netting it first and foremost. I looked up a few recipe/methods online and settled on a cold water brine after a series of gentle soaking, loosening and straining of the eggs. Drained and rinsed after 30 minutes and jarred.

Thanks. I think the hoop of my net is likely a bit smaller than the netting was made for and so I get more folds in the netting and that may be increasing my entanglement issues. I do have a larger hoop and can try to see if that net will fit on the hoop and reduce my issues. A shallower bag may also help.
For sure about the line tightness. I have been giving lots of line as I have seen a rod tip snap when the fish thrashed around in the net and the hook caught on the net. Agree about the adrenaline and trying to get things to work smoothly...may have to try one of those silicon-like, larger mesh nets another member suggested (no cloth seams in those either and there do not seem to be too many unnecessary folds in the net).
One day, I may give the eggs a shot. I would like to do it but it will again become a time issue. I don't even keep the bones for a fish stock because I don't have the time to clean them up properly so it's all boneless (and lateral line dark, fatty meat removed) chunks of meat, which I can do fairly quickly (about 10-15min. per fish - getting faster as I have been getting more practice.

Glad I saw the photo of the net. I changed frames and the netting fit perfectly with the bag looking so much better and shallower with a wider opening and the netting is stretched out with no folds caused by being threaded onto a frame that was too small. Can't wait to test the net out to see how it goes.

What were you guys using, jigging?

Vibrato, I like to run a high hook with a small soft plastic minnow above it.

Very good reading, thanks for the report. Nice fish as well!

Great pics and report. I’ve been in fog like that a few times and it can definitely be a little unnerving.

We were using Navionics to keep our distance from the shoals and islands.