Whitefish

[puckster_guy]

 Hi guys. I was talking to a buddy of mine lamenting his inability to fish for whities on Simcoe due to a lack of ice on the lake. Does anybody here fish for them in the summer? I just learned to fish for Lakers by jigging cleos down near the bottom with some success. I'm hoping this summer to get some whitefish as well. I'm wondering if anyone has targeted these fish and what structure holds them. I know they're deep but thats about it. Something Ididn't know till recently is they're a close relative to Lakers. I've eaten a few whities over the years and know them to be tasty. Any ideas guys?

[T-Bone]

Caught one whitey in my life on Lake Wabitongushi. Set-up a floating jig and minnow...casted it out into a very shallow sandy bay about 2-3 feet deep...took a nap. When I awoke...24+ inch whitey on the end of it. Caught a pike the same way once on Lake Nosbonsing. Crazy...

Those whitefish look like a cross between a fallfish and a flattened-out white carp. Nasty.

But then again, what do I know...?

[adempsey]

I ice fish for them, but I have caught them in the summer on a couple of occasions.    I've rarely specifically targeted them in the summer.   It's one of those things I've always wanted to figure out because you can find really thick schools of them sitting on the bottom in 50+ FOW.    They are one of my favorite fish to eat too!   

One summer I caught a nice sized Whitefish jigging for Walleye in a river in about 40 FOW.   The other times were during the mayfly hatch.   The Whitefish would come up in small schools and swim at the surface [their dorsal fins were out of the water!] eating the nyphms, emergers or flies (not sure which).   When they were doing that you could catch them using a small piece of worm on a slip float.   

I was thinking that my "Simcoe Whitefish Tactics" are not appropriate for some other lakes because there are different types of Whitefish and the ones in Simcoe are the bigger variety.   Next time I come across a school I am planning on trying a smaller sized bait or maybe a  fly.   Vertically jigging the bottom in 50+ FOW during the summer isn't an easy task though, unless you have very calm waters or have a couple very long anchor lines.

[RHYBAK]

Never bothered with them at Kipawa. My vacation is based on Walleye fishing,
Haven't bothered on Simcoe in years. Family enjoys Perch ,so I concentrate on the Perch in the winter.

We have caught the odd Whitefish at Kipawa while fishing for Walleye.
Buddy at work says that while at Kipawa, they throw a bait out from the dock in the spring and catch Whitefish.

They are a good size , and I'm sure plentiful.
I might look for the schools at 50 feet in July.

[puckster_guy]

 Thx adempsey I've been having so much fun fishing for walleye and pike I've been  neglecting the other fish in the lake. Last year a buddy showed me a few things about jigging for Lakers so I tried that and it worked. I know whitefish share similar waters I might as well learn to chase them too when the walleye bite is slow. Besides it's a great way to waste an afternoon and shirk off work at camp.

[johnny walleye]

one year the cabin next to the one I stayed in fished for white fish ,they jigged with Swedish pimples.
and did very well.

[fishtildark]

I am curious about the whitefish, how you cook them, how big etc. The only time I can remember eating any was as a kid on the way home from fishing in Wisconsin. came back through the u p and dad bought some smoked whitefish... it didnt make it to ohio border. I guess there are some in Sasseginega we see on fish finder but never try.. also heard they have a very soft mouth making tough to land?? thanks. Sam

[Fort Wisers]

We used to catch them occasionally when out jogging for Lake Trout, they seem to be in similar conditions.
Although, since we basically only caught them by accident 1-2 times a year maybe we just got the odd lost soul.
Never ate any, always tossed them back.
Interesting read so far.....

[adempsey]

I am curious about the whitefish, how you cook them, how big etc. The only time I can remember eating any was as a kid on the way home from fishing in Wisconsin. came back through the u p and dad bought some smoked whitefish... it didnt make it to ohio border. I guess there are some in Sasseginega we see on fish finder but never try.. also heard they have a very soft mouth making tough to land?? thanks. Sam

Typically they are smoked.   Most deep water fish have more fat on them.  I've never smoked mine though.   They key is to remove the brown fat along the lateral line, which is fairly easy to do.  The brown fat definitely gives it a more fishy taste.  Of course, my buddy never does that because he likes the taste - and maybe needs some Omega 3's!     Then I just cook the fillets like I would any fish.    Usually I just fry it without any breading.   It's a really nice and firm fish, so you can do a lot with it.    For example, here's a video for a whitefish soup recipe from Simon/Limeyangler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq4nVcNGkg4.   I've never eaten any taken during the summer though, so not sure if that makes any difference or not.   

[Riverrat]

I've caught them in the late fall and they have been good eating.  I have been told not to eat them in the summer.

[RHYBAK]

I don't know why not.
They are a cold water species.
No different them Lake Trout.

The only thing I can think of is that they can not sit in the heat or warm water live well.
The meat will get very mushy and not appealing.

Catch them and get them on ice fast

[NortonJoe]

Is this the same fish species that I have heard called "ling"?

[limacharley]

no-Ling looks like a cat fish and whitefish looks like a fall fish or a giant shiner.

https://www.searchlock.com/search?safe=off&start=0&qn=&tbm=isch&sr=sb&rescnt=&q=whitefish

https://www.searchlock.com/search?safe=off&start=0&qn=&tbm=isch&sr=sb&rescnt=&q=freshwater+ling

hope these links help.

[RHYBAK]

Is this the same fish species that I have heard called "ling"?

Whitefish is just an overgrown herring with it's lips pointed downwards where a herring's lips point straight out.

Ling are a fresh water cod.( Burbot)

[puckster_guy]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_whitefish