July 21, 2008

Fishermen:

The whitefish bite is right on schedule with reports of them being caught in the Big Arm/Elmo areas yesterday July 20^th.

To begin with smaller jigs in the ¼ to 3/8 oz size will often be best or a dark fly setup with maggots.  As the season progresses and the perch they’re feeding on become slightly larger a ½ to 5/8 oz lure will often become more effective. 

Whitefish being a cold water species are most comfortable just under the thermocline which requires you to fish a precise depth most often somewhere between 50 and 55 feet but it may vary from 35 to 60 feet depending on your location. 

A quick pop from a stationary position interspersed with an extended motionless moment giving a fly an opportunity to attract a bite is an effective tactic. 

For a second line a dark bottom weight with two flies above it works well. 

Because whitefish are such erratic explosive fighters often one line is all a fellow can handle.

Because the limit is 100 fish per person one cooler won’t be enough.

Lake trout fishing continue to be superb.  During years of excessive spring runoff they seem to bite well all summer with more large fish mixed in with smaller fish in deep water.  Because the aggressive management of this species has kept numbers reasonable the shrimp on which they feed are in abundance creating the bright orange flesh which makes them much more desirable table fare.