Bait / hooks for Whitefish

[Wiener]

I want to try to catch some whitefish on Green Bay, but have never done it.

What kind of bait do you use, and what size of hook ?
If you are using small minnows, do you tail hook them or hook them near the head ?

I read as many of the posts as I could, and I am going to try to jig for them, but I want to have a couple of rods rigged different ways, so I don't have to waste time changing lures etc.

I don't know where to start fishing, my plan is to try and find fish near the near shore reefs, in about 20 feet of water.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Wiener

[jabers69]

I use pickerel or perch  egg that are salted  on small hook not sure what size  as my hooks got all mixed in together . I  put hacksaw blade on the wall  ,run the line throw the hole  and let the eggs  set on the bottom and watch for the hacksaw blade  to start bouncing  then set the hook .

[blacktrap]

We use small jigs with cut bait and slip rigs with cut bait.  Got 5 nice ones yesterday and a couple the day before.  Had fish fry last nite and chowder tonite, cant beat whities for eating.

[Whitefish Slayer]

It all depends on clarity of water and their habits and food in that particular body of water,
 
Big part is getting them in the area, we chum alot before we fish an area

Where we normally fish them the water isn't very clear

We don't get them jiggin they seem to be shy away almost when you jig.

We use size 8-14 egg hooks leave bait on bottom but pick it up slowly and let it back down faily often, (usually when I get most of my hits is as soon as it settles back on the body, it causes that little sitr up on the bottom and it seesm to attract them well)

Chain pikeral eggs salter/fresh work well
any fish workds great particularly sucker in our lake.
I've taken them on single eggs out of the jar, peas, smelt sperm, minnows

I like too experiment with these fish.

I like to use small slip bobbers when I fish them... or sponge bobbers 25-30 FOW for us


Good Luck

[nbguy]

Hey Whitefish Slayer don't give away all the secrets.  Just kidding. When they are feeding heavy they hit hard and fast, but with the small hooks they will swallow the bait giving the hook a solid bite, as their mouths are very soft.

[tzeigs]

Just fished Green Bay this morn.

Used #3 swedish pimples.  hot one was a white with orange tape.  usually the #3 pimples are the best size for me anyway.  Kastmaster (gold w/ orange works well too).

I usually tip them with a couple wax worms or fill the treble up with spikes. Fishing in about 40 feet of water.

Helps to have a vex or marcum.  They hit the jig pretty soft, so you have to be ready to set the hook.

Got about 10 today, was pretty slow going tho.   good luck....

[kingfisher]

great tips

[Woodsman]

The go to lure the last year on Lake Simcoe for whitefish was the J60 Williams Ice Jig in Half & Half Nu-Wrinkle finish.
http://www.williams.ca/en/ice_jig_2.htm