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Author Topic: Whitefish info  (Read 3763 times)

Offline JeffRaines

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Whitefish info
« on: January 02, 2018, 10:55:51 AM »
Hey guys

I normally just fish for trout out of state, and it’s typically catch and release however I do enjoy eating fish and I’ve heard that mountain whitefish are great eating and abundant in some areas. Plus I’d love a reason to get out of the house this winter and have a fish dinner or two. Any chance I could get some pointers and maybe pointed in the right direction on these? I live in Puyallup so anywhere within an hour or so would be great.

Thanks!

Offline Alchase

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2018, 11:07:26 AM »
I use to catch white fish accidentally when fishing for trout/steelhead with salmon eggs or night crawlers in many local rivers. Snoqualmie has a lot of white fish. I do not know anyone who has eaten one, we never kept them and considered them garbage fish?
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Offline h20hunter

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2018, 11:10:13 AM »
I've seen articles about smoking and canning online.

Offline Skillet

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2018, 11:18:50 AM »
We fished the Kettle River for them when I was a kid, it was a hoot.  We used a couple of splt shot about 12-15" above a small baitholder hook (#12, I think) and a couple of maggots. 

Then we'd pickle them.
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Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2018, 11:21:12 AM »
Whitefished since I was a kid. We mostly smoke them and my mom used to pickle can them. Yeas they are boney and should be scaled if fried. I fish for them on the Sky river, they do quite well for them in Duvall. Use maggots, grubs, dig for hellgrammites. Depending on the area you can use 2 hooks and doesn't have to be barbless but check the regulations for the area.
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Offline WapitiTalk1

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2018, 11:34:48 AM »
Used to slay them in NW MT years ago. They are great smoking fish.
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Offline Bill W

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2018, 11:38:34 AM »
I fished for them in the past at Flaming Geyser park and at the old Whitney bridge.

Offline Alchase

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2018, 12:09:37 PM »
Learn something every day!
Never knew they were good to eat.
Only 2 defining forces sacrificed themselves for you:
The American Soldier and Jesus Christ. One died for your freedom, the other for your soul.

My rock,
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Offline Skillet

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2018, 12:15:08 PM »
Mountain whitefish are delish and a lot of fun.  Lake whitefish too (would occasionally catch one while bladebaiting for walleye in the Big C). 
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Offline JeffRaines

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2018, 05:03:53 PM »
How do the gulp products work with these guys? Would love to pick up a couple of jars and have some left for the next few weeks.

Offline Nwgunner

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2018, 05:27:30 PM »
The Naches and Yakima rivers are great waters for whitefish.  Every year about this time I would read local articles in the paper suggesting this under utilized, tasty resource.  Big bag limits too.  A small hook tipped with a maggot.

Offline BigGoonTuna

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2018, 06:29:04 AM »
there's tons of them in the cowlitz, and they can get huge(i've caught a couple in the 3lb range).  seem to catch one every couple trips, but never have targeted them.  i've been saying this for a few years now, but i might have to make a drive down there to try and catch a few intentionally with how lousy the steelhead fishing has been.
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Offline onmygame

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2018, 07:02:13 AM »
If you live in Puyallup - a good bet would be the White / Stuck River between Enumclaw and Greenwater. That stretch of river used to be famous for winter whitefishing back in the day. Check the regs first though - no matter where you go. The best of luck.

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2018, 08:37:32 AM »
How do the gulp products work with these guys? Would love to pick up a couple of jars and have some left for the next few weeks.
Never tried the Gulp products on them. I have caught them on eggs. I was once stopped by a LEO who wanted to give me a ticket for fishing for bait. He said I couldn't until I pointed out the part about if you were fishing for whitefish you could use bait. So like said before check the regs
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Offline Bill W

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Re: Whitefish info
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2018, 09:27:43 AM »
I fly fished the Sultan River years ago and used beads for whitefish.  Had split shot on the leader also to get the bead to sweep along the bottom.  I missed bunches of strikes until I determined the whitefish were also hitting the splitshot.   Anything down on the bottom will attract them if whitefish are there.

 


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