Whitefish are annoying

T

tag456

Freshly Spawned
OK maybe annoying is too strong a word but...

Was fishing a not to popular a river that's full of white fish and a few trout. Like 20 to 1 ratio. Catching whitefish on every other drift seemed like. Yea it's fun to catch them for awhile but I'm fishing for trout dang it.

Hard to tell initially if I hooked a whitefish or trout, apparent after a bit though. The whitefish give up sooner seems like.

I did catch a few trout but about 40 whitefish!

Better than not catching fish sure but I probably won't go back for quite awhile.

Anyone love catching whitefish?
 
Whitefish are native to Washington and many other states.

They are great smoked.

They make a no catching anything to catching something and that tug that is so rewarding.

IMHO, enjoy the tug. If you do not enjoying catching them, fish different waters or adjust your fishing to a technique so less are caught...
 
tag456 said:
OK maybe annoying is too strong a word but...

Was fishing a not to popular a river that's full of white fish and a few trout. Like 20 to 1 ratio. Catching whitefish on every other drift seemed like. Yea it's fun to catch them for awhile but I'm fishing for trout dang it.

Hard to tell initially if I hooked a whitefish or trout, apparent after a bit though. The whitefish give up sooner seems like.

I did catch a few trout but about 40 whitefish!

Better than not catching fish sure but I probably won't go back for quite awhile.

Anyone love catching whitefish?
Click to expand...
Put the nymphs down and it's like the whitefish aren't even there.
 
Around here the whitefish is like a mythical unicorn, and I'm thrilled every time I catch one.
 
Whitefish are rather slimy to handle....but that's my ghilley's job...so I don't mind hooking them at all. Demonstrates my deft touch to a very subtle take.
 
Try shortening your leader about a foot.
 
tag456 said:
OK maybe annoying is too strong a word but...

Was fishing a not to popular a river that's full of white fish and a few trout. Like 20 to 1 ratio. Catching whitefish on every other drift seemed like. Yea it's fun to catch them for awhile but I'm fishing for trout dang it.

Hard to tell initially if I hooked a whitefish or trout, apparent after a bit though. The whitefish give up sooner seems like.

I did catch a few trout but about 40 whitefish!

Better than not catching fish sure but I probably won't go back for quite awhile.

Anyone love catching whitefish?
Click to expand...
Send me the directions to your 40-fish spot and I'll thin them out for you. I won't intentionally kill them but I suppose if you apply C&R mortality, there may be one less the next time you visit.
 
Wade Rivers said:
They will take dry flies...

View attachment 122896
Click to expand...
Indeed, when whitefish shoal up in a fast, shallow tailout, feasting on a prolific BWO or Trico hatch, they are a real challenge on small dry flies. Drag free drifts with small flies are tough in the shallow, fast tail outs and whitefish aren’t stupid.
 
Mike Cline said:
Indeed, when whitefish shoal up in a fast, shallow tailout, feasting on a prolific BWO or Trico hatch, they are a real challenge on small dry flies. Drag free drifts with small flies are tough in the shallow, fast tail outs and whitefish aren’t stupid.
Click to expand...
Swing soft hackles.
 
I’m offended.

As Rob said ditch the nymphs and you’ll reduce your chance. They take streamers very seldom, an occasional dry and a swung fly is less likely to grab a whitefish.

Rub them on your body for a natural human repellent.
 
Yes, whitefish can be very annoying. However, they are an important native fish that should be respected. It is usually easy to fish around their favored habitats.
 
Last edited:
Remember where you caught those whitefish, and fish water that is faster than that. More likely to hold rainbows.

Also what PhilR said, fish a little higher in the water column. Rainbows are more willing to look up.
 
dirty dog said:
First whites I ever caught were on dry flies in the Deschutes river just north of Bend, Or
They were a bit tricky to hook.
Click to expand...
Were any like this one?

www.themeateater.com

World Record Mountain Whitefish Caught in Oregon

It was the first time Alex Dietz got out on the water after the birth of his first child, a daughter named Willow, a month prior—certainly an auspicious moment for any angler. Dec. 19 brought a chill over Oregon’s hallowed Deschutes River, where he and friends were nymphing for the river’s native...
www.themeateater.com www.themeateater.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top