Lake Whites on the fly?

[Flieguy]

Anyone tried this? I would be interested in it! I don't know a ton about Lake Whitefish other than what I've read in "fish of alberta", but I'd be open to try it out

[Dust1n]

One of my favorite fish to catch on the fly rod. Its like bonefish fishing but only in Canada haha.
You want to find a Sandy flat and setup there. Marinas, Creek outlets, and beachs all hold the whites this time of year. I like go wade in the beachs because I KNOW theres nothing to get snagged on but theres nothing wrong with fishing in marinas if you got permission.
Fly Choices- Boatman,Backswimmers,Scuds,Cronimids,Bloodworms,Ny mphs (Hares ear,Pheasent tail,Prince Nymph) and small streamers if you get a chance to spot a huge school of them and in the Early morning and Late Nights you can sneak in some dry fly action on caddis patterns. Remeber if its below the water being retreive you need the BH. It will get that whites attension and will come rushing over and it helps when your using a faster retreive or needing to get lower in the water colom in mid day.
Fast 1 inch strip, Long slow Strip and a figure 8 retreives work the best I find. Whites arnt picky and will eat almost anything do WONT fit into there mouths. They try eating larger stuff but there retricted by there mouth side.
Time of day? Iv caught them before sunup and iv caught them in midnight but you want light for best success so you can sightfish them and know where your going to land them.
Bring a floating line with a 12ft leader and your set. I dont like to use sink tip but im sure you could if you wanted too and the same goes with indicators unless the water is really choppy. They will bend 8wts like its cheese and there really fun on the 4wt because they will take you into your backing and you can really give that fish a hookset. Anything bigger then a 5wt and you want a firm hookset but not enough to rip it loose because there mouth is really soft. It also helps tying your flies with a wide gap hook it really helps when your fishing whites!
Have fun!

[Flieguy]

Thanks for all the info! Just one more thing... where should i go? I live between Priddis and Bragg creek. where would be my best bet within 2 hours?

[wildbill]

Just got into fly fishing for lkwtfsh this summer, pretty awesome action, closest thing to fishin for trout on some of these southern reservoirs. If your in the Lethbridge area talk to the wise man in the fly fishing department at Wholesale sports, he and his buddies are gurus in this type of fishing. I often find myself just going there to b.s. with him, he is a very good man and has helped alot over the years with fly fishing. Bead head wire worm tied on a scud hook sz 10-6 provides some serious action 4'-6' below a bobber type indacator. These are extremely easy and durable flies to tie. I put a dab of head cement on the shank to stop the copper wire from spinning and then put some on when I'm done tying the fly. P.S. it took me like a year to get this info out of the "wise man" actually, come to think of it I ran into these two older gentlemen fly fishing at Ridge who were just slaughtering the whitefish with fly rods and, they spilled the beans. They told me their buddy who showed them everything they know about fly fishing for lake whitefish was going to arrive at any moment and, low and behold its the "wise man" from wholesale.

[mr.boats]

Ha ha......I know the "wise man" you speak of too. If he's not on duty and you need help in the fly fishing section at WS, you might as well go home and come back when he's working. He's helped me out a lot over the years and doesn't try to sell me more than I need. Great guy. X2 on the Lake Whites....good fighting fish! I'm still pretty new to fishing for them. Any suggestions on where to fish for them at Ridge?

[wildbill]

Right where it drains into Cross Coulee res. and down below in cross coulee @ the spillway and your right he is one of the only ones in the store who actually know something and, like you said a real straight shooter but, isn't that what fly fishing is all about?

[Bhflyfisher]

Originally Posted by Fish Hunter7

One of my favorite fish to catch on the fly rod. Its like bonefish fishing but only in Canada haha.

How is it anything like bone fishing? Have you ever gone bone fishing?

[Guitarplayingfish]

[1/2 oz Bucktail]

Gotdamn I loves me a good internet scrap. I'll put my cash on BH, he looks tough..... maybe not BGSH tough, but he's gettin there.

Originally Posted by Bhflyfisher

How is it anything like bone fishing? Have you ever gone bone fishing?

On some of the really clear reservoirs they move onto the sandy flats (especially early summer and early fall) to feed. You can see pods of them cruising, and when conditions are right all you have to do is get your fly within about 2-3 feet of them (little weighed nymphs, tiny clousers etc). I was really into it a few years back, biggest ones weighed 6-7 lbs, pretty fun.

[Bhflyfisher]

Originally Posted by jrs

On some of the really clear reservoirs they move onto the sandy flats (especially early summer and early fall) to feed. You can see pods of them cruising, and when conditions are right all you have to do is get your fly within about 2-3 feet of them (little weighed nymphs, tiny clousers etc). I was really into it a few years back, biggest ones weighed 6-7 lbs, pretty fun.

Ah geez, i wrote up a whole reply, but thought twice and its not even worth starting another ridiculous thread about.

but i will ask if you're fishing .5-2'/ankle deep water for the so called bone fish of alberta.

Yup, I've seen them shallow enough their dorsals occasionally break the surface. Not the same obviously, but as close as the prairies can provide. Can usually watch them come up and slam the fly when conditions are just right. I see why guys make the comparison.

[wildbill]

Originally Posted by Flieguy

Anyone tried this? I would be interested in it! I don't know a ton about Lake Whitefish other than what I've read in "fish of alberta", but I'd be open to try it out

Did you ever give this a try?

[FlyTheory]

I've wanted to, but no opportunity this summer!

[wildbill]

Originally Posted by FlyTheory

I've wanted to, but no opportunity this summer!

Spring and fall are the best times, if you like trout, you'd like these!

[smitty9]

I love to bonefish near my home at Whitemud Creek. G*#@%mn chub minnows strip at least 6 feet of line off my -1 weight rod. As always, the Royal coachmen shrimp damsel is the ticket.