fall whitefish streams

countrylane19 · #1 10-08-2021, 03:25 PM

hey y'all just wondering where's a decent stream out here in es1/es2 for targeting fall rockies? it's still a species on my to get list (should be a blast on light tackle) and now that it's fall i'm thinking that it should be easier to get some to bite in smaller streams? i'm thinking streams like the sheep or highwood would produce? would the bow or rdr be fairly empty given that they're up spawning in the tribs? i think i'll just be nymphing some ww's or sjw for 'em. appreciate the input!

Lornce · #2 10-11-2021, 07:24 AM

Unfortunately our streams are suffering from drought this year with extremly low water.

buckman · #3 10-14-2021, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrylane19

hey y'all just wondering where's a decent stream out here in es1/es2 for targeting fall rockies? it's still a species on my to get list (should be a blast on light tackle) and now that it's fall i'm thinking that it should be easier to get some to bite in smaller streams? i'm thinking streams like the sheep or highwood would produce? would the bow or rdr be fairly empty given that they're up spawning in the tribs? i think i'll just be nymphing some ww's or sjw for 'em. appreciate the input!

The Whitefish runs of the past seem way down.There would be a dozen anglers on my favorite runs on the sheep/highwood, all getting sport.I was there last week 1 fish and no other fishermen.

270hunter · #4 10-14-2021, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrylane19

hey y'all just wondering where's a decent stream out here in es1/es2 for targeting fall rockies? it's still a species on my to get list (should be a blast on light tackle) and now that it's fall i'm thinking that it should be easier to get some to bite in smaller streams? i'm thinking streams like the sheep or highwood would produce? would the bow or rdr be fairly empty given that they're up spawning in the tribs? i think i'll just be nymphing some ww's or sjw for 'em. appreciate the input!

The sheep has been great for me for whitefish. One morning I caught 30 fish. 20 trout ten whites. I’ve had better luck with tiny beadheads. There bite at times is super subtle. My biggest whitefish was 20 inches and a tank. I set the hook when the indicator went down a millimeter thinking no way that’s a fish. What ya know it’s a beauty. I put a split shot above my last fly and usually they take the bottom fly only. I put my phone underwater once and there where so many fish stacked up along the bottom in august. Caught some beauty trout there too. If you pm me I could Send you my favourite hole. When I say hole I mean 12 foot hole.

Drewski Canuck · #5 10-14-2021, 12:23 PM

What about the Elbow where it enters the Bow?

Drewski

countrylane19 · #6 10-14-2021, 02:28 PM

thanks for your thoughts y'all! i've actually never tried the confluence, maybe it'd be worth a shot! that's awesome, i'll shoot you a dm 270! i think i tried the sheep a few years ago and just caught some tiny rainbows in town in mid summer. but considering it's a trib of the bow there must be some decent ones in there!

buckman · #7 10-14-2021, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 270hunter

The sheep has been great for me for whitefish. One morning I caught 30 fish. 20 trout ten whites. I’ve had better luck with tiny beadheads. There bite at times is super subtle. My biggest whitefish was 20 inches and a tank. I set the hook when the indicator went down a millimeter thinking no way that’s a fish. What ya know it’s a beauty. I put a split shot above my last fly and usually they take the bottom fly only. I put my phone underwater once and there where so many fish stacked up along the bottom in august. Caught some beauty trout there too. If you pm me I could Send you my favourite hole. When I say hole I mean 12 foot hole.

You had way more success than me,I do know from the past that some days were better than others.Nice to know that the whitefish are back in numbers again.Will try again soon. Thanks for the post.

270hunter · #8 10-14-2021, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckman

You had way more success than me,I do know from the past that some days were better than others.Nice to know that the whitefish are back in numbers again.Will try again soon. Thanks for the post.

Absolutely. Some days I only catch a couple but some days I catch to many to count.

Bolete · #9 10-14-2021, 09:37 PM

Anyone try the McLeod this late in the year for whites?

roper1 · #10 10-14-2021, 09:41 PM

Getting a bit late but try try the Highwood west of Longview. Can be really big days if you find a school. Good luck!

Lornce · #11 10-15-2021, 07:36 AM

just got home form the Highwood, Only one small whitefish but the cutties where good but taking small Tricos (size#20) in the film.

270hunter · #12 10-15-2021, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lornce

just got home form the Highwood, Only one small whitefish but the cutties where good but taking small Tricos (size#20) in the film.

Thanks for the update Lornce

Red Bullets · #13 10-15-2021, 10:15 PM

Thought I would mention that not all rocky mountain whites migrate. There can be some resident whites local to a stream too. I have caught RM whitefish all times in the winter in the North Saskatchewan river right in Edmonton. Goldbar park where the warm water treatment discharge doesn't let the river freeze. Whites were there every month.