How to catch a Mackinaw?

[badger132]

I have seen videos of people catching Mackinaws out of Payette lake through the ice and would like to give that a try. Anyone ever done it that would give me a few pointers to get started? Looks like they use summer fishing gear, and are jigging, but I am sure there is a lot more to it. Any suggestions on lures, tactics, or where in general to start drilling holes?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Steve Johnson

[Duck-Slayer]

gotta wait for the Ice first... yep start by the boat docks in town and move out..... good luck.....
Matt

[fowl_language]

Yeah sure would be nice if they didn't whiteout the lure they are using in the videos every time the fish gets to the hole makes it look sketchy.

[hooknhunter]

Yeah sure would be nice if they didn't whiteout the lure they are using in the videos every time the fish gets to the hole makes it look sketchy.

I resemble that remark. 
 
I was given some help getting started by a great friend and I promised him that I'd do my best to help protect the fishery.  It is easy to over fish/over harvest Mackinaw and if you are not careful with them, they will die.  Even in the few short years I've fished for them, I've seen what I believe is a serious decline in the the Mackinaw catching and I see more people out there trying.  There aren't a lot of them in Payette lake anyway.  I'd be happy to give some help to a few dedicated fishermen who are willing to pay their dues, but I'm not going to put it out there for every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
 
If you want to give it a try some time, PM me and we can go fishing together.  Perhaps you can squeeze a few of the techniques I've used out of me.
 
After my comments about the perch on CJ, my guess is no one will fish with me any way.   

[Duck-Slayer]

After my comments about the perch on CJ, my guess is no one will fish with me any way.   

I will.... anytime and anywhere...... 
Matt

[fowl_language]

I resemble that remark. 
 
I was given some help getting started by a great friend and I promised him that I'd do my best to help protect the fishery.  It is easy to over fish/over harvest Mackinaw and if you are not careful with them, they will die.  Even in the few short years I've fished for them, I've seen what I believe is a serious decline in the the Mackinaw catching and I see more people out there trying.  There aren't a lot of them in Payette lake anyway.  I'd be happy to give some help to a few dedicated fishermen who are willing to pay their dues, but I'm not going to put it out there for every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
 
If you want to give it a try some time, PM me and we can go fishing together.  Perhaps you can squeeze a few of the techniques I've used out of me.
 
After my comments about the perch on CJ, my guess is no one will fish with me any way.   

Lol, I figured someone would have been the author of those videos.  I've spend many of a night looking at the shots right at the hole trying to find out what the heck you were using.

I was going to head down there before the cascade derby just to try and catch a laker through the ice out here, more looking for location than anything, I was trying to find access places as I've never fished south of Winchester before.

Everyone is entitled to their way of fishing/hunting although I am involved with conservation I respect everyone's opinion because you're entitled to that, would I not fish with you because of it? No, of course I would, I would just take the fish if you didn't want them, possible conflict resolved.  As for lakers, I have enough fat on my bones I don't need it in my fish, I just want to land the suckers and get a photo.

[Bigggcountry]

[quote
 
If you want to give it a try some time, PM me and we can go fishing together.  Perhaps you can squeeze a few of the techniques I've used out of me.
 
After my comments about the perch on CJ, my guess is no one will fish with me any way.   
[/quote]

PM sent

[Bigggcountry]

I would hope that the ice is good and fishable on Payette Lake, how's the laker fishing so far?  Haven't seen any reports yet.

[hooknhunter]

Sorry,  I haven't been all season.  I'd expect the ice should be good, but lots of slush on top, but it's hard to say for sure without going.  I've been busy chasing cuttyrainbrown-rexatunasaurus's.
 
Might go next week, but I won't have room for any more folks.  There will be 6 of us as it is.  That's about 4 more than ideal, IMHO.

[codeman]

I fished for them several times on granby lake, colorado. We used large, 6-8 inch white curly tails on a large jig head. Small piece of sucker meat. We jigged in 100ft of water.  Generally just feel the weight of the fish, not an actual bite. Not sure if this info is specific to that fishery, but if i were gonna try mack fishing in idaho, id start with this.

[idahohunter1]

I only get to fish for them 1 trip a year, when I do I use 3" Chartreuse Gulps Minnow Grub on a Chartreuse jig head in 80 FOW. I fish so my jig stops about an inch from touching bottom, they usually take it when the jig is falling so I don't feel the bite, the line goes slack in the hole, then I know I have a fish on and rip some lips! Its exciting seeing the "slack line".

[bowhunter68]

You are going to laugh at this but trust me on this one...take a 1" chunk of bratwurst an put it on a size 2 or4 hook and dead stick it 4-8' under the ice....your welcome

[Ziceman1]

Cooked or uncooked, LOL

[bowhunter68]

Cooked if you want lunch uncooked if you want macks...lol no joke...

[bowhunter68]

Cooked if you want lunch uncooked if you want macks...lol no joke...

[harry]

What is a mackinaw?

[Ziceman1]

Lake Trout.  The Makichinaw strain comes from the great lakes I believe.

[harry]

Thanks it's one reason i like this site get to hear of other types orstrains of fish not found locally in NY. Same with MFF I don't want Shanghai the thread on ya and good luck on them.

[ice jigger]

We all could probably use a lesson from the boys in Colorado. Enjoy!

[fowl_language]

The guy on the right hole maybe